Sucroferric oxyhydroxide (trade name Velphoro) has been approved since August 2014 for adults with chronic kidney disease on haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) examined in a dossier assessment whether in these cases the drug offers patients an added benefit over the appropriate comparator therapies. According to the findings, an added benefit is not proven because no suitable data were available.

If the kidney cannot regulate the salt, water and acid-base balance anymore, phosphate, among other substances, accumulates in the blood (hyperphosphataemia). Phosphate binders aim to help bind the phosphate ingested with the food before it enters the blood stream and reduce complications such as cardiovascular disease.

The Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) distinguished between patients with and without contraindication to calcium-based phosphate binders: If calcium-based phosphate binders are not an option, sucroferric oxyhydroxide was to be compared with sevelamer or lanthanum carbonate. If there is no contraindication, these two drugs as well as calcium-based phosphate binders are available as comparator therapy.

For more details, go to: https://www.iqwig.de/en/press/press-releases/press-releases/added-benefit-of-sucroferric-oxyhydroxide-is-not-proven.6514.html