Lessons learned from peginesatide in the treatment of anemia associated with chronic kidney disease in patients on dialysis

Peginesatide is the newest erythropoietin-stimulating agent (ESA) in the quest for the ideal treatment of anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Reduced frequency of administration along with a possibly lower cost as a result of simpler manufacturing techniques compared with other available agents makes peginesatide a highly desirable product in the competitive ESA market. Peginesatide is noninferior to the other ESAs, and has a good safety profile in patients on hemodialysis. The higher rates of adverse cardiovascular events reported in CKD patients not on dialysis in the recent Phase III studies require further, better planned, studies. Peginesatide had to be withdrawn from the market in the US after some reports of hypersensitivity reactions to the drug. This is a setback, but the scientific advances gained as a result of this product development can be used to develop other, newer products.