AstraZeneca reports positive trials for kidney drug

AstraZeneca on Friday reported clinical trials of its roxadustat drug for patients with anaemia from chronic kidney disease had significantly increased red haemoglobin levels.

'Anaemia is a common, serious condition among patients with chronic kidney disease,' said AstraZeneca executive vice-president of bioharmaceuticals research and development Mene Pangalos.

'It occurs when the body has fewer healthy red blood cells than normal and low levels of haemoglobin, which may leave patients fatigued and short of breath.'

Pangalos said results from the trials “reinforce the potential role that roxadustat could play in increasing haemoglobin levels and managing anaemia, which is often underdiagnosed and undertreated”.