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news.Keryx Biopharmaceuticals has licensed the worldwide rights, excluding certain Asian-Pacific countries, to Zerenex, a drug currently in phase II clinical development for the treatment of elevated phosphate levels in patients with end-stage renal disease.
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Keryx in-licensed the rights to Zerenex from Panion & BF Biotech, a drug development company based in Taiwan. In accordance with the terms of the agreement, Keryx will make up-front and milestone payments as well as pay royalties on product sales.
The efficacy of Zerenex has been demonstrated in two previous phase II clinical trials using single fixed dose regimens. In both studies, Zerenex was able to significantly reduce serum phosphorous, and the degree of reduction was comparable to calcium based products which were used as control arms in those studies.
Keryx’s licensor is currently in the process of finalizing the results of a dose-ranging, randomized, placebo-controlled, multi-center phase II clinical trial in 116 patients with final results from this study expected in the first half of 2006.
Zerenex is an oral, inorganic, iron-based compound that has the capacity to bind to phosphorous and form non- absorbable complexes.
According to the company, currently available treatments for hyperphosphatemia (elevated phosphate levels) do not reliably achieve treatment goals set by kidney specialists. Additionally, there are safety concerns about the use of available products.