Vadadustat

Vadadustat, sold under the brand name Vafseo, is a medication used for the treatment of symptomatic anemia associated with chronic kidney disease. Vadadustat is a hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor.

The most common side effects include thromboembolic events (problems due to the formation of blood clots in the blood vessels), diarrhea, and hypertension (high blood pressure).

Vadadustat was approved for medical use in the European Union in April 2023, and in the United States in March 2024.

Medical uses
In the EU, vadadustat is indicated for the treatment of symptomatic anemia associated with chronic kidney disease in adults on chronic maintenance dialysis.

In the US, vadadustat is indicated for the treatment of anemia due to chronic kidney disease in adults who have been receiving dialysis for at least three months.

Legal status
In February 2023, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) adopted a positive opinion, recommending the granting of a marketing authorization for the medicinal product Vafseo, intended for the treatment of symptomatic anemia in adults with chronic kidney disease who are on chronic dialysis. The applicant for this medicinal product is Akebia Europe Limited. Vadadustat was approved for medical use in the European Union in April 2023.

Research
Vadadustat is in phase III clinical trials for the treatment of anemia caused by chronic kidney disease.