Shire launches On Track initiative for kidney disease patients

Shire Pharmaceuticals has announced the launch of its On Track initiative which aims to improve adherence to disease management regimens in patients experiencing stage five of chronic kidney disease with hyperphosphatemia, a high level of phosphorus in the blood.

In addition to the provision of phosphate binder Fosrenol (lanthanum carbonate), the On Track programme aims to provide patients and physicians with resources to help them find solutions to problems affecting adherence.

The company notes that approximately half of all patients in stage five of chronic kidney disease do not manage to attain serum phosphorus control, while up to 73 per cent of patients are repeatedly non-compliant to regimens of phosphate binder therapy.

William Finn, professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, said: “Nonadherence to phosphate binder therapy is a serious problem and has become a growing issue among chronic kidney disease stage five patients due to the complexity of managing the condition.”

He added that it is important for patients to work with their renal care teams to find out the best strategies for successful adherence and to use all available programmes to help them make the best of their medications.

In January 2008, Shire announced that it has completed its roll-out of Fosrenol in all major European markets.