Otsuka Canada announces Health Canada approval of Korsuva for the treatment of moderate-to-severe pruritus associated with chronic kidney disease in adult hemodialysis patients
Otsuka Canada Pharmaceutical Inc. (OCPI) announced that Health Canada has approved Korsuva (difelikefalin) injection for the treatment of moderate-to-severe pruritus associated with chronic kidney disease in adults undergoing hemodialysis
Korsuva is a first-in-class kappa opioid receptor (KOR) agonist that targets the body's peripheral nervous system. CKD associated pruritus affects an estimated 16,000 Canadians with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis.
"Chronic kidney disease is a debilitating and life-threatening disease that is vastly underdiagnosed," said Elizabeth Myles, National Executive Director of The Kidney Foundation of Canada. "It's encouraging that new treatment options are being approved for patients with chronic kidney disease –"
Dr. Claudio Rigatto, nephrologist, commented "CKD-aP is a common but under-recognized and under-treated condition, and one of the top 3 priorities identified by hemodialysis patients for further research and innovation. Therefore, it is really great to see a new treatment approved in Canada with the potential to improve the lives of many patients suffering from CKD-aP, that is supported by robust KALM 1&2 randomized clinical trials to demonstrate difelikefalin's efficacy and safety."
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