Zydus Cadila launches phase III trials of new drug to treat non-dialysis anaemia

Drug firm Zydus Cadila Wednesday announced phase III clinical trials of Desidustat, an investigational new drug targeted at treating anaemia in non-dialysis dependent chronic kidney disease patients. "This phase III study will be a multicenter (50-60 sites), randomised, active-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Desidustat versus Darbepoetin for the treatment of anaemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who are not on dialysis," the company said in a regulatory filing.

Zydus Group Chairman Pankaj R Patel said this innovation has the potential to bring about a paradigm shift in the management of CKD patients with anaemia. Earlier, Desidustat had met its primary endpoints in phase II clinical study of non-dialysis dependent chronic kidney disease patients suffering from anaemia. The phase I trials were earlier completed in Australia, the company said.

(With inputs from agencies.)