Ardelyx, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company that focuses on non-systemic, small molecule therapeutics, recently announced new non-clinical results on its lead drug candidate tenapanor, which is being assessed to treat irritable bowel syndrome and constipation (IBS-C) as well as to control hyperphosphatemia (abnormally elevated levels of phosphate in the blood) in patients with CKD who are on dialysis. The data will be presented in multiple posters sessions and in an oral presentation during the 2015 American Society of Nephrology’s (ASN) Kidney Week, taking place in San Diego, California, Nov. 3-8.
The posters presentations will include:
• Bergur Stefansson, David P. Rosenbaum, Peter J. Greasley, Maria Leonsson-Zachrisson, and Anna Maria Langkilde will be presenting “A Phase 2 Study on the Effect of Tenapanor on Albuminuria in Patients with T2DM and CKD,” (TH-PO200), on Thursday, Nov. 5.
• Ann-Cathrine Jönsson-Rylander, Margareta Behrendt, Craig Plato, Denise Schwabauer, and Peter J. Greasley will be presenting “Prophylactic and Therapeutic Tenapanor are Vascular Protective in a Rat Model of Chronic Kidney Disease,” (FR-PO724), on Friday, Nov. 6.
• David P. Rosenbaum, Mikael Knutsson, Maria Leonsson-Zachrisson, and Susanne Johansson will be presenting “The Pharmacodynamic Effect of Tenapanor Is Most Pronounced when Administered Before Food in Healthy Volunteers,” (SA-PO430), on Saturday, Nov. 7.
• Geoffrey A. Block, David P. Rosenbaum, Maria Leonsson-Zachrisson, Magnus Åstrand, Susanne Johansson, Mikael Knutsson, and Anna Maria Langkilde will be presenting an Oral Session entitled “Tenapanor, an NHE3 Inhibitor, Reduces Serum Phosphate in Patients with CKD Stage 5D and Hyperphosphatemia”, (Abstract TH-OR114), on Thursday, Nov. 5.
Tenapanor (also known as AZD1722 and RDX5791) is a small molecule inhibitor of NHE3 that has consistently demonstrated the ability to reduce the absorption of dietary sodium and phosphorus, both of which are widely recognized as key factors in the progression of kidney disease.
In February, Ardelyx announced positive results from a Phase 2b clinical study that evaluated tenapanor’s capacity to control hyperphosphatemia in patients on dialysis with end stage renal disease. The drug significantly decreased serum phosphate levels in treated patients compared to placebo. Results from a second Phase 2b study in hyperphosphatemia patients on dialysis are expected in the second half of 2016.