Author Archives: admin

KENILWORTH, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Merck (NYSE:MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, today announced that the REVEAL (Randomized EValuation of the Effects of Anacetrapib through Lipid modification) outcomes study of anacetrapib met its primary endpoint, significantly reducing major … Continue reading →

Anemia is a major complication in patients with CKD, starting in pre-dialysis stages and worsening with worsening renal function and as dialysis is initiated.  It can result in significant morbidity and impact quality of life.  Current treatments include erythropoiesis stimulating … Continue reading →

Today, the FDA Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee voted 10-4 in favor of the updated cardiovascular risk profile of the investigational sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor, dapagliflozin. The committee also voted 13-1 in favor of the agent as an adjunct … Continue reading →

The results of the recently completed VA-Nephron D study were presented at a Late Breaking Abstract Session at the ASN-Kidney Week and simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine.  The study randomized 1448 type 2 diabetic patients half … Continue reading →

As noted in a previous posting, Tolvaptan, a vasopression type-2 receptor antagonist, currently approved for the treatment of clinically significant hypervolemic and euvolemic hyponatremia, is also being developed for the treatment of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).  Otsuka pharmaceuticals … Continue reading →

Introduction The incidence and prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been increasing, led by diabetes (DM) and hypertension (HTN) that are consequences of poor lifestyle and dietary habits (see USRDS 2012). Although effective treatments are available for both DM and … Continue reading →

On June 19, 2013 Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) announced top-line results of the phase IV study, named SAVOR-TIMI-53. In this study of adult patients with type 2 diabetes with either a history of established cardiovascular disease or multiple risk factors, Onglyza … Continue reading →

According to the WCN program (see here), a poster (#SU401) entitled ” Ferric citrate is a novel efficacious phosphate binder” will be presented on June 2nd by Dr. Julia Lewis from Vanderbilt University Medical Center (view abstract) during the Annual … Continue reading →

Atrasentan is a selective endothelin A receptor antagonist,  which was found to have cytostatic properties in prostate cancer (reviewed here) .  Due to promising early results, atresantan was initially developed for the treatment of hormone-refractory prostate cancer (see here).  However, … Continue reading →

In 2009 TREAT, a large placebo-controlled trial of darbepoetin alfa, an erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA) was conducted in patients with type 2 diabetes who had chronic kidney disease and anemia (see TREAT).  The rationale for the study was that CKD … Continue reading →