Daprodustat: A Hypoxia-Inducible Factor–Prolyl Hydroxylase Inhibitor for Anemia of Chronic Kidney Disease

Abstract

Objective: The objective was to review the safety and efficacy of daprodustat, a hypoxia-inducible factor–prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor (HIF-PHI) in the treatment of anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Data Sources: A literature search was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and ClinicalTrials.gov using the keywords “daprodustat,” “GSK1278863,” and “hypoxia-inducible factor-prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors” from January 2010 through November 2023. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Literature was included if it evaluated pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and/or safety of daprodustat in human subjects and was reported in English. The manufacturer’s product monograph was also utilized. Data Synthesis: Daprodustat significantly increased hemoglobin levels in CKD patients on dialysis (difference 0.18 g/dL) and not on dialysis (difference 0.08 g/dL) over 52-week treatment periods compared with erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESA) in Anemia Studies in CKD: Erythropoiesis via a Novel PHI Daprodustat (ASCEND)-D and ASCEND-ND, respectively. First occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) was similar between daprodustat and ESAs in both trials. Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice in Comparison to Existing Drugs: Daprodustat can be used in patients with CKD on dialysis and already receiving an ESA for at least 6 weeks to further increase serum hemoglobin levels without increasing the risk of MACE. Adverse effects of daprodustat that may occur more than ESAs include headache, emesis, and thrombosis. Conclusions: Daprodustat is a novel oral, non-iron therapy for treatment of anemia of CKD. It was Food and Drug Administration approved in 2023 in patients already receiving dialysis for at least 4 months but not in non-dialysis patients. Long-term data for safety and additional benefits are pending.