Astellas Pharma has launched Kiklin capsules 250mg (generic name:Bixalomar) in Japan for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in patients on dialysis with chronic kidney disease.
Kiklin Capsules bind to phosphate in the gastrointestinal tract to decrease the serum phosphorus concentration, thereby hindering absorption of phosphate into the human body.
The amine-functional polymers, Kiklin Capsules, demonstrated the clinical efficacy in decreasing serum phosphorus concentration, in addition to a preferable long-term safety profile, in Phase III studies in patients on dialysis with chronic kidney disease in Japan.
Astellas Pharma and Ilypsa, now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Amgen, signed a license agreement in April 2006, under which Astellas gained exclusive rights to develop and market Kiklin Capsules for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in Japan.
Hyperphosphatemia occurs commonly in patients receiving dialysis whose renal function is reduced, because phosphorus is not sufficiently excreted into urine through the kidneys and consequently accumulates in the body.
