Last reviewed · How we verify

NCT04313153

Trial Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Oral Vadadustat Once Daily (QD) and Three Times Weekly (TIW) for the Maintenance Treatment of Anemia in Hemodialysis Subjects Converting From Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents (ESAs)

Completed Phase 3 Results posted Last updated 22 May 2025
What this trial tests

Phase 3 trial testing Vadadustat in Anemia in 319 participants. Completed in 22 June 2022.

Timeline
27 May 2020
Primary endpoint
26 November 2021
22 June 2022

Quick facts

Lead sponsorAkebia Therapeutics
PhasePhase 3
StatusCompleted
Study typeINTERVENTIONAL
Allocationrandomized
Designparallel
Maskingnone
Primary purposetreatment
Enrollment319
Start date27 May 2020
Primary completion26 November 2021
Estimated completion22 June 2022
Sites59 locations across Italy, Poland, Hungary, United States, Spain, Czechia

Drugs / interventions tested

Conditions studied

Sponsor

Akebia Therapeutics — full company profile →

Who can join

18 and older, any sex, with Anemia. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Results — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Per-arm endpoint measurements with 95% confidence intervals where reported. Source: trial results section.

Change From Baseline in Hb to the Average Over the Primary Evaluation Period (PEP) (Weeks 20 to 26) Primary · Baseline; Weeks 20 to 26

The Baseline Hb was defined as the average of the last 2 central laboratory Hb values taken on or prior to the first dose date. The average for the PEP was calculated as the average of all Hb measurements from the central laboratory within the three visit windows during Weeks 20 through 26, regardless of intercurrent events. Analysis was conducted using an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) model with multiple imputation for missing data with randomization stratification factors and Baseline Hb as covariates. Change from Baseline was calculated as PEP value minus the Baseline value.

GroupValue95% CI
Vadadustat QD0.07± 0.12
Vadadustat TIW-0.19± 0.12
Darbepoetin Alfa0.34± 0.12
Change From Baseline in Hb to the Average Over the Secondary Evaluation Period (SEP) (Weeks 46 to 52) Secondary · Baseline; Weeks 46 to 52

The Baseline Hb was defined as the average of the last 2 central laboratory Hb values taken on or prior to the first dose date. The average for the SEP was calculated as the average of all Hb measurements from the central laboratory within the three visit windows during Weeks 46 through 52, regardless of intercurrent events. Analysis was conducted using an ANCOVA model with multiple imputation for missing data with randomization stratification factors and Baseline Hb as covariates. Change from Baseline was calculated as SEP value minus the Baseline value.

GroupValue95% CI
Vadadustat QD0.04± 0.15
Vadadustat TIW0.03± 0.15
Darbepoetin Alfa0.44± 0.15

Adverse events — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Time frame: From first dose of study drug (Day 1) up to Week 56 (from first dose of study drug to last dose + 4 weeks of follow-up). Reporting threshold: 5%. Adverse-event reports describe events observed during the trial — not all are caused by the drug.

Vadadustat QD
Serious: 47/105 (45%)
Deaths: 12/105
Vadadustat TIW
Serious: 47/104 (45%)
Deaths: 9/104
Darbepoetin Alfa
Serious: 47/108 (44%)
Deaths: 7/108

Serious adverse events (155 terms)

ReactionSystemVadadustat QDVadadustat TIWDarbepoetin Alfa
COVID-19 pneumoniaInfections and infestations
Acute myocardial infarctionCardiac disorders
AnaemiaBlood and lymphatic system disorders
COVID-19Infections and infestations
HypervolaemiaMetabolism and nutrition disorders
Myocardial infarctionCardiac disorders
Gastrointestinal haemorrhageGastrointestinal disorders
Non-cardiac chest painGeneral disorders
PneumoniaInfections and infestations
SepsisInfections and infestations
Arteriovenous fistula thrombosisInjury, poisoning and procedural complications
HyperkalaemiaMetabolism and nutrition disorders
Acute respiratory failureRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Blood loss anaemiaBlood and lymphatic system disorders
Atrial fibrillationCardiac disorders
Cardiac arrestCardiac disorders
Cardiac failureCardiac disorders
Cardiac failure congestiveCardiac disorders
Pancreatitis acuteGastrointestinal disorders
Upper gastrointestinal haemorrhageGastrointestinal disorders
Kidney transplant rejectionImmune system disorders
CellulitisInfections and infestations
DiverticulitisInfections and infestations
GangreneInfections and infestations
Klebsiella sepsisInfections and infestations
Other adverse events (12 terms — click to expand)

ReactionSystemVadadustat QDVadadustat TIWDarbepoetin Alfa
DiarrhoeaGastrointestinal disorders
NauseaGastrointestinal disorders
COVID-19Infections and infestations
HypertensionVascular disorders
VomitingGastrointestinal disorders
FallInjury, poisoning and procedural complications
HyperkalaemiaMetabolism and nutrition disorders
Abdominal painGastrointestinal disorders
AnaemiaBlood and lymphatic system disorders
Oedema peripheralGeneral disorders
HypoglycaemiaMetabolism and nutrition disorders
Back painMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders

Most-reported serious reactions: COVID-19 pneumonia, Acute myocardial infarction, Anaemia, COVID-19, Hypervolaemia, Myocardial infarction, Gastrointestinal haemorrhage, Non-cardiac chest pain.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04313153 adverse events section.

Sponsor's own description

This trial will be conducted to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of vadadustat compared to darbepoetin alfa for the maintenance treatment of anemia in hemodialysis participants after conversion from current erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) therapy.

Publications & conference data

4 peer-reviewed publications reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

  1. Hypoxia-inducible factor stabilisers for the anaemia of chronic kidney disease.
    Natale P, Palmer SC, Jaure A, Hodson EM, et al · · 2022 · cited 33× · PMID 36005278 · DOI 10.1002/14651858.cd013751.pub2
  2. Vadadustat, a HIF Prolyl Hydroxylase Inhibitor, Improves Immunomodulatory Properties of Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells.
    Zielniok K, Burdzinska A, Kaleta B, Zagozdzon R, et al · · 2020 · cited 9× · PMID 33139632 · DOI 10.3390/cells9112396
  3. Challenging patient phenotypes in the management of anaemia of chronic kidney disease.
    Pramod S, Goldfarb DS. · · 2021 · cited 7× · PMID 34331826 · DOI 10.1111/ijcp.14681
  4. Safety and Efficacy of Vadadustat Once Daily and Three Times Weekly in Patients With Dialysis-Dependent CKD With Anemia.
    Kooienga L, Burke S, Kathresal A, Luo W, et al · · 2024 · cited 2× · PMID 39231617 · DOI 10.34067/kid.0000000567

Verify or expand the search:

Other trials of Vadadustat

Trials testing the same drug.

Other recruiting trials for Anemia

Currently open trials in the same condition.

Other Akebia Therapeutics trials

Trials by the same sponsor.

Verify against primary sources

Data sources for this page

Drug Landscape aggregates and links these public records for informational use only. Always verify against the primary source before clinical or regulatory decisions. Canonical URL: https://druglandscape.com/trial/NCT04313153.

Primary sources · FDA · ClinicalTrials.gov · EMA · SEC EDGAR · ChEMBL · Wikidata · full sourcing