Shire releases data of clinical trial

Shire has published the findings of a clinical study into Fosrenol (lanthanum carbonate) and sevelamer hydrochloride (Genzyme’s Renagel) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients on haemodialysis.

The two non-calcium based phosphate binders were involved in a 12-week crossover study, in which patients were randomised to receive either Fosrenol or sevelamer for four weeks before switching to the alternative treatment for the same period.

It was concluded that the statistically larger reduction within the completer group suggested that Fosrenol may offer greater serum phosphorus reduction in CKD patients.

Professor Stuart Sprague of Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, said: “This study is important, because up until now, there was no data comparing the relative efficacies of lanthanum carbonate and sevelamer.”

In September, Shire announced that it had recruited the assistance of Dancing with the Stars participant Karina Smirnoff to raise awareness of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder – a condition that the firm’s drug Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) is designed to treat.