Molecule can increase Hb in anemic cancer patients

“The decrease in soluble transferrin receptor levels is a sign that, in the beginning, the cells were very iron-hungry, and then their hunger was satisfied—at least to a certain extent—during the treatment with our drug,” Dr Reike said. “This is a sign that, by reducing hepcidin, more iron is being released into the circulation, and this iron can effectively be used for erythropoiesis.”

Dr Reike added that, although the researchers did observe some adverse effects in the patients, none of these could be clearly attributed to lexaptepid pegol.

Some of the patients did have low blood pressure shortly after treatment, but that may have been influenced by factors other than treatment, he said. Furthermore, in the phase 1 study of lexaptepid pegol in healthy subjects, the only adverse effect that occurred in the treatment arm (and not in the placebo arm) was headache.

Based on these results, NOXXON is now planning—and recruiting for—a study of lexaptepid pegol in dialysis patients.