CSL Vifor Receives Approval for Veltassa® for the Treatment of Hyperkalemia
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
CSL Vifor has announced that its partner, Zeria Pharmaceutical, has received marketing authorization from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (MHLW) for Veltassa®, a treatment for adult patients with hyperkalemia, a condition characterized by elevated potassium levels in the blood.
Veltassa® is a sodium-free potassium binder that helps lower excessive potassium in the bloodstream, maintaining normal potassium levels. It works by exchanging potassium for calcium in the colon, allowing potassium to be excreted from the body through natural processes.
This medication helps patients manage chronic hyperkalemia, enabling them to continue using optimal, guideline-recommended doses of life-saving RAASi (renin-angiotensin aldosterone system inhibitor) therapies. Across multiple randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials, Veltassa® has been shown to support optimized RAASi therapy in a variety of patient populations.
Hyperkalemia, defined by potassium levels above the normal range of 3.5 to 5.0 mmol/L, is often asymptomatic. However, when potassium levels rise quickly or reach extreme levels, symptoms such as heart palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, and vomiting may occur.
The condition is most commonly associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and heart failure (HF), and the use of RAASi medications intended to slow the progression of these diseases can also heighten the risk of hyperkalemia.
With this approval, Veltassa® has now been authorized in 41 countries globally.
Source: csl.com
