Results of a study examined glomerular filtration rate (GFR), a measure of renal function, in stable congestive heart failure (CHF) patients with mild renal impairment treated with furosemide plus KW-3902 compared to furosemide plus placebo.
The findings demonstrate that over an eight hour period, KW-3902 provided an increase in GFR of 32.1% over baseline, compared to an increase of 8.3% with placebo. This was accompanied by an increase in renal plasma flow of 47.7% with KW-3902 compared to an increase of 16% with placebo. Urine volume over eight hours was also greater with KW-3902 plus furosemide than with placebo plus furosemide.
“Renal function is a strong, independent predictor of both acute and long-term outcomes in patients with congestive heart failure. A drug that can preserve and even increase renal function and at the same time help normalize fluid balance could be an important therapy for those suffering from congestive heart failure,” said Howard Dittrich, chief medical officer, NovaCardia.
KW-3902 is an adenosine A1 receptor which mediates a variety of physiologic functions, including regulation of renal fluid balance. Stimulation of the receptor during standard diuretic therapy in CHF patients may contribute to worsening kidney function. KW-3902 is intended to block the feedback mechanism by which diuretic therapy may worsen renal function and inhibit sodium reabsorption into the kidney, thereby preserving renal function while facilitating diuresis.