Drug Aids Renal Patients Long Term

The condition is an almost inevitable consequence of ESRD and remains poorly controlled in many patients. A low phosphate diet is essential for managing dialysis patients but many have highly elevated levels despite maintaining a strict diet.

If not well-managed, hyperphosphatemia can cause renal osteodystrophy or contribute to cardiovascular disease, which accounts for almost half of all deaths among dialysis patients. Fosrenal works by binding to dietary phosphate in the gastrointestinal tract. Once bound, the Fosrenal complex cannot pass through the intestinal lining into the bloodstream and is eliminated from the body, decreasing phosphate absorption significantly. Fosrenal was developed by Shire Global Clinical Medicine (Basingstoke, UK).

"The results add to the already extensive data package available for Fosrenal and further support this effective new treatment as a significant step forward in phosphate management,” said lead investigator Dr. Alastair Hutchison, of the Manchester Institute of Nephrology & Transplantation (UK).




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