Shire publishes efficacy study results of FOSRENOL and Renagel

Shire PlcOct 7 2009

- Direct Comparison of the Two non-Calcium Phosphate Binders Gives new Insights Into Relative Efficacy

Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY), the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announces the publication in Clinical Nephrology of findings from a head-to-head clinical study comparing the efficacy of two non-calcium based phosphate binders, FOSRENOL(R) (lanthanum carbonate) and sevelamer hydrochloride (Genzyme's Renagel(R)) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients on haemodialysis.

The study's primary endpoint, change in serum phosphorus from baseline to end of treatment, was evaluated using several statistical analyses; the primary analysis used last observation carried forward (LOCF) for the intention to treat (ITT) population treatment with both phosphate binders and had a serum phosphorus value at the end of treatment.

The analysis of LOCF for the ITT population showed a numerically greater reduction in serum phosphorus with FOSRENOL (1.7mg/dL) versus sevelamer (1.4mg/dL), although this did not reach statistical significance>

Study investigators concluded that the statistically larger reduction within the completer group suggested that FOSRENOL may offer greater serum phosphorus reduction in CKD patients on haemodialysis.

"This study is important, because up until now, there was no data comparing the relative efficacies of lanthanum carbonate and sevelamer," said lead investigator Professor Stuart Sprague of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

"The findings suggest that over four weeks of treatment, FOSRENOL may be a more effective binder of phosphate. Further research is now required to evaluate whether the trends observed in this crossover study are continued in the long term," he added.

"The company's investment in this study underscores Shire's commitment to characterizing the differences of FOSRENOL and better understand its clinical potential," said Arnaud Partiot, Senior Vice President, Clinical Research and Development, Shire.

Current clinical guidelines recommend targets for phosphorus and other biochemical values including calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH) in patients with CKD undergoing dialysis. Sustained control within these ranges is associated with improved survival in patients starting dialysis. The level of achievement of the targets in clinical practice has been assessed in large studies such as DOPPS (Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study). Overall, they are modest with less than 50% of patients in the target range for phosphorus, calcium and PTH. Therefore, there is a need for more effective treatment strategies.