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Posted: 20/06/2005
Venofer? (iron sucrose injection, USP) receives FDA approval for the
Treatment of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Pre-Dialysis Patients
On June 17, 2005, American Regent/Luitpold Pharmaceuticals announced that the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Venofer? (iron sucrose injection, USP) for the
treatment of iron deficiency anemia in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients Not on Dialysis.
According to the National Kidney Foundation, 20 million Americans have Chronic Kidney Disease
(CKD). Of these, approximately 8 million are considered to be Stages III and IV and many may require
intravenous iron supplementation to treat iron deficiency anemia, a common complication of CKD.
Patients with kidney failure suffer from a reduced ability to produce erythropoietin leading to
impairment of new red blood cell production and eventually iron deficiency anemia. Iron is essential to
effective hemoglobin and red blood cell production. Untreated depletion of iron stores leads to
iron-deficient erythropoiesis and iron-deficiency anemia.
First approved in 2000 for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in patients undergoing hemodialysis
on supplemental erythropoietin therapy, Venofer? received a positive national coverage decision by
CMS in 2001 and has been assigned a specific HCPCS Code: J-1756 for that indication. Venofer?,
currently the #1 prescribed IV iron, is the first and only non-dextran IV iron approved for use in the
pre-dialysis population. Venofer? is now FDA approved at a higher dose of iron per single dose
administration than any other IV iron.
In non-dialysis dependent CKD patients, Venofer? is administered to a total cumulative dose of 1000mg
over a 14 day period as a 200mg slow IV injection undiluted over 2 to 5 minutes on 5 different occasions
within the 14 day period. There is limited experience, however, with an infusion of 500mg, diluted in
250mL of 0.9% Sodium Chloride over 3.5 to 4 hours on days 1 & 14; hypotension occurred in 2 of the 30
patients administered that dose in the clinical trial.
Source: American Regent
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