Nephrologists report decline in use of ESAs

Nephrologists report decline in use of ESAs
7/24/2012

Approximately 50% of nephrologists surveyed by BioTrends Research Group have made changes to the way they are treating patients with chronic kidney disease, on and off dialysis, for anemia. Fewer CKD patients are taking erythropoietin-stimulating agents in the past three months, according to the latest TreatmentTrends: Nephrology (U.S.) report.

Physicians continue to report pressure to use more IV iron at the expense of ESAs because of the impact of bundling, according to the report. Treatment prevalence for IV iron has increased significantly in the hemodialysis and CKD Stage 4 patient populations between the first and second quarter of 2012. Additionally, use of IV iron is expected to increase significantly in the next six months in all populations, with the exception of peritoneal dialysis patients.

"While use of IV iron has increased, share for the individual IV iron preparations, including American Regent’s Venofer, Sanofi-Aventis’s Ferrlecit, AMAG’s Feraheme and Watson’s Nulecit, has remained stable over the past year," said Associate Therapeutic Class Director-Nephrology Rob Dubman. "Surveyed nephrologists project share will continue to remain stable over the next six months, except in CKD-ND patients where nephrologists project significant declines for both Venofer and Ferrlecit."

Regarding renal anemia products in development, familiarity levels with Rockwell’s Soluble Ferric Pyrophosphate (SFP) remains about the same as last quarter, and nearly half of the respondents rate their interest as high. HIF-PH inhibitors (being developed by FibroGen, Akebia Therapeutics and potentially others) has relatively low familiarity amongst this group of surveyed nephrologists but interest continues to remain high.

http://www.nephrologynews.com/clinical/article/nephrologists-report-decline-in-use-of-esas