Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (KERX) Begins Phase II Study of Zerenex for Treatment of Patients with Kidney Disease
Keryx Biopharmaceuticals is focused on medically important pharmaceutical products for the treatment of renal disease. The company is currently developing Zerenex (ferric citrate), an oral, ferric iron-based compound that has the capacity to bind phosphate and form non-absorbable complexes. The company today announced the initiation of a Phase 2 study of Zerenex in managing serum phosphorus and iron deficiency in anemic patients with Stage 3 to 5 non-dialysis dependent chronic kidney disease (NDD-CKD). In the U.S. alone, over 1.5 million people suffering from Stages 3-5 NDD-CKD have iron deficiency anemia. However, there are currently no oral iron supplements with an…