PEGINESATIDE FOR THE TREATMENT OF ANEMIA IN THE NEPHROLOGY SETTING

Anemia is a major complication in patients with chronic kidney disease, as the damaged kidney is unable to produce enough erythropoietin. Peginesatide (formerly known as Hematide (TM)) is a synthetic, peptide-based erythropoiesis-stimulating agent linked to polyethylene glycol. Based on extensive preclinical and clinical data substantiating the efficacy and safety of this agent, it was approved in the U.S. in March 2012 for the treatment of anemia due to chronic kidney disease in adult patients on dialysis. Peginesatide (Omontys (R)) was launched in the U.S. in April 2012.