NEW YORK, March 4, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:KERX) (the "Company") today announced the publication of Auryxia™ (ferric citrate) data and expert analyses in two peer-reviewed journals. An analysis of the effect of Auryxia on intravenous (IV) iron and erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) dosage and utilization was published online today in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). Auryxia was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in September 2014 for the control of serum phosphorus levels in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients on dialysis.

The publication in JASN, titled "Ferric Citrate Reduces Intravenous Iron and Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agent Use in ESRD" was led by Kausik Umanath, MD, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension at Henry Ford Hospital. The analysis was based on the Phase 3 long-term safety and efficacy trial of Auryxia in dialysis-dependent CKD patients. The primary data from this study was published in 2014 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

Separately, an expert analysis was also recently published online in Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research. The review titled "Phosphorus Binding with Ferric Citrate Is Associated with Fewer Hospitalizations and Reduced Hospitalization Costs" was published online in Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Researchand was led by Roger A. Rodby, MD, Division of Nephrology, Rush University Medical Center. This post-hoc analysis was based on the Phase 3 long-term safety and efficacy trial of Auryxia in dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease patients.

About End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) and Hyperphosphatemia

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) represents the most severe stage of CKD, as many metabolic factors, such as iron and phosphorus, are out of balance. The majority of ESRD patients require chronic treatment with phosphate-binding agents to lower and maintain serum phosphorus at acceptable levels. In addition, iron can be severely depleted in dialysis patients and they therefore are often treated with intravenous iron and other medications. Approximately 450,000 ESRD patients require dialysis in the U.S., with the number projected to rise in the future.

About Auryxia™ (ferric citrate)

Auryxia™ (ferric citrate) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on September 5, 2014 and is indicated in the U.S. for the control of serum phosphorus levels in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on dialysis. The U.S. approval of Auryxia was based on data from the Company's Phase 3 registration program. In the Phase 3 clinical trials, Auryxia effectively reduced serum phosphorus levels to within the KDOQI guidelines range of 3.5 to 5.5 mg/dL.

Auryxia binds with dietary phosphate in the GI tract, and forms non-absorbable complexes which are excreted. Auryxia has been shown to increase serum iron parameters including ferritin and transferrin saturation (TSAT), whereas these parameters remained relatively constant in patients treated with active control (Renvela® and/or Phoslo®). Iron absorption from Auryxia may lead to excessive elevations in iron stores. Accordingly, physicians should assess and monitor iron parameters before starting and while on Auryxia, and may need to decrease or discontinue IV iron for these patients. The most common adverse events for Auryxia treated patients were gastrointestinal-related, including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and constipation.

For more information about Auryxia, visit www.Auryxia.com.

For Full Prescribing Information for Auryxia, please visit http://keryx.com/wp-content/uploads/Auryxia_PI_Keryx_112014.pdf.

Auryxia (ferric citrate) Important Safety Information

Contraindication: Patients with iron overload syndrome, e.g. hemochromatosis, should not take Auryxia (ferric citrate).

Iron Overload: Iron absorption from Auryxia may lead to increased iron in storage sites. Iron parameters should be monitored prior to and while on Auryxia. Patients receiving IV iron may require a reduction in dose or discontinuation of IV iron therapy.

Accidental Overdose of Iron: Accidental overdose of iron containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6 years of age. Keep Auryxia away from children as it contains iron. Call a poison control center or your physician in case of an accidental overdose in a child.

Patients with Gastrointestinal Bleeding or Inflammation: Safety has not been established for these patients.

Adverse Events: The most common adverse events with Auryxia were diarrhea (21%), nausea (11%), constipation (8%), vomiting (7%) and cough (6%). Gastrointestinal adverse reactions were the most common reason for discontinuing Auryxia (14%).

Auryxia contains iron and may cause dark stools, which is considered normal with oral medications containing iron.

Drug Interactions: Doxycycline should be taken at least 1 hour before Auryxia.

For Full Prescribing Information for Auryxia, please visit http://keryx.com/wp-content/uploads/Auryxia_PI_Keryx_112014.pdf.

About Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, headquartered in New York, is focused on bringing innovative therapies to market for patients with renal disease. In December 2014, the Company launched its first FDA-approved product, Auryxia (ferric citrate) for the treatment of elevated serum phosphorus levels in patients with chronic kidney disease on dialysis, in the United States. In January 2014, ferric citrate was approved for the treatment of patients with all stages of CKD in Japan, where it is being marketed as Riona® by Keryx's Japanese partner, Japan Tobacco Inc. and Torii Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. For more information about Keryx, please visit www.keryx.com.

Cautionary Statement

Some of the statements included in this press release, particularly those relating to the results of clinical trials or the commercialization and subsequent clinical development of Auryxia (ferric citrate), may be forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. For those statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Among the factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially are the following: the risk that we may not be successful in the development of ferric citrate for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in non-dialysis chronic kidney disease patients; whether Auryxia will be successfully launched and marketed in the U.S.; whether Riona® will be successfully marketed by our Japanese partner, Japan Tobacco, Inc. and Torii Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd; the risk that the EMA may not concur with our interpretation of the results from our Phase 3 studies in ESRD, Phase 2 study in non-dialysis dependent CKD, supportive studies, conduct of the studies, or any other part of our MAA submission and could ultimately deny approval of the MAA; and other risk factors identified from time to time in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, may be forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. For those statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements set forth in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. We do not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof. This press release and prior releases are available at http://www.keryx.com. The information found on our website, or on the websites of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases the National Kidney Foundation, or the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, is not incorporated by reference into this press release and is included for reference purposes only.

Amy Sullivan, Vice President - Corporate Development
and Public Affairs
Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
Tel: 617.466.3447
E-mail:

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Hastings, a kidney dialysis nurse at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center, has been working in the field for 28 years.

She started working with kidney patients soon after graduating nursing school. Hasting saw an advertisement in her hometown newspaper in International Falls. “Somebody needs somebody to do dialysis for his wife,” she remembered.

Dialysis wasn’t the field Hastings had planned to enter, she knew it would give her nursing experience allow her to get her foot in the door in her career. In order to work in the dialysis field, Hastings had to complete a three-and-a-half month training program in the Twin Cities.

Hastings, along with three other students, were involved with the training to provide dialysis in rural areas. As students, the group was living in a hospital, on the same floor as the transplant patients, whose recovery period was about six months.

“It was just living with them, patients and seeing their ups and down,” Hastings said.

It was those early experiences that started Hastings thinking that she would want to donate a kidney of her own.

After her training, Hastings started working in the International Falls area.

“I was going to people’s homes to do dialysis and then it got to a point, where there were no more patients up there, anymore,” she explained, “I started looking for work elsewhere and Bemidji is what I chose.”

Hastings, 61, waited before deciding to have the donation surgery because she wanted to ensure both of her children and extended family wouldn’t need the kidney.

When she decided the time was right, the first step was making sure she was still able to donate. “There is no age limit, as long as you’re healthy,” she said.

Next, Hastings set out to find a match.

“What I wanted to do was first see if there was anybody within our unit that I could donate to, and I did not match,” she said.

The search was expanded to the regional Sanford area, including farther out into Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, and a match was found.

Before her transplant operation, Hastings underwent organ donation education and had several scans and exams to ensure her transplant would be safe. The surgery went well, and Hastings is back at home, recovering with the help of her husband, Harry.

“It’s been good. I’m one to be busy all the time, working in dialysis, you’re always busy, you run run run, and I’m here and I’m not running and I’m getting bored,” she said.

She has no regrets about donating.

“I wish I had another kidney, I would do it again without a doubt.”

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About RSN
RSN is a nonprofit, patient-focused, patient-run organization that instills health, happiness, and hope into the lives of those affected by the disease. Founded in 1993 by Lori Hartwell, who developed chronic kidney disease at the age of 2, RSN strives to motivate and assist patients in developing their personal coping skills, special talents, and employability by educating and empowering them.

SOURCE Renal Support Network

RELATED LINKS
http://rsnhope.org

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Islamabad - Speakers at the concluding session of the 10th Biennial Pakistan Society of Nephrology (PSN) International Conference have emphasised the need for doing more CAPD (continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis) in chronic kidney failure patients.

The conference  was organised by Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU), Pakistan institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad, under the guidance of ex-head of department PIMS Nephrology Department and twice past president of PSN, Professor Sameeh Javed Khan and current acting head of department and Associate Professor of Nephrology, PIMS, Dr Mohammad Imtiaz Masroor and Assistant Professor Nephrology PIMS, Dr Syed Sohail Tanveer, in collaboration with all local chapter nephrologists of Islamabad and Rawalpindi and armed forces institutes.

The conference was inaugurated by Prof Jaffar Naqvi.
Prof Javed Akram, Vice-Chancellor Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University, PIMS, was the guest of honour.

The theme of the conference was, “Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Challenges in South Asia,” and keeping the theme in mind world renowned specialists of the field nationally and internationally participated in this mega event with zeal.
Speakers from most of south Asian countries like Prof George Abraham from India, Prof Rezvi Sherif from Sri Lanka, Dr Dhiraj Manandher from Nepal and other international speakers like Prof Lionel Rostaing from France and Dr Joen Kye Hwang from South Korea, delivered state-of-the-art lectures, where they highlighted the challenges of CKD as well as guidelines and recommendation for deceased organ donor/cadaveric renal transplant, and emphasised at the need of doing more CAPD (continuous amubulatory peritoneal dialysis) in chronic kidney failure patients.

This three days conference was preceded by a two days extensive pre-conference post graduate trainees  course that had the record breaking attendance ever in any course conducted by the society.

At the end there was an election and selection of the new office bearers and the new members of PSN were declared.
New president being Prof Nisar Anwar from Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, vice president, Dr.
Mohammad Imtiaz Masroor from Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU), PIMS, Islamabad, and general secretary, Prof Waqar Ahmed, from Shiekh Zayad Hospital, Lahore.

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