Anemia Studies in CKD: Erythropoiesis Via a Novel Prolyl Hydroxylase Inhibitor (PHI) Daprodustat- Iron (ASCEND: Fe)

A Repeat Dose, Open Label, Two Period, Randomized, Cross Over Study to Compare the Effect of Daprodustat to Recombinant, Human Erythropoietin (rhEPO) on Oral Iron Absorption in Adult Participants With Anemia Associated With Chronic Kidney Disease Who Are Not on Dialysis

Daprodustat administration has the potential, by virtue of increasing hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) levels, to increase oral iron absorption and incorporation into hemoglobin (Hgb). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to compare the effect of daprodustat to rhEPO (i.e., epoetin alfa or darbepoetin alfa) on non-heme oral iron absorption using stable isotopic iron (57Fe and 58Fe) by measuring incorporation of iron in erythrocytes. This study will be a randomized, repeat dose, open label, two period cross-over study in adult, male and female participants with anemia associated with chronic kidney disease who are not on dialysis currently treated with stable doses less than or equal to (<=) 50 percent (%) change in 4-weekly dose) for at least 8 weeks prior to and including the screening period, of rhEPO (i.e., epoetin alfa or darbepoetin alfa). Sufficient participants will be enrolled such that at least 12 participants comprise the Evaluable Population. The study will compare the fractional iron absorption between treatment arms (daprodustat and rhEPO [i.e., epoetin alfa or darbepoetin alfa]) and will evaluate the difference is equal/not equal to zero.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Anaemia
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Daprodustat; Drug: rhEPO; Drug: Ferrous sulfate containing the stable iron isotope (57Fe); Drug: Ferrous sulfate containing the stable iron isotope (58Fe)

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 15
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Texas
    • Fort Worth, Texas, United States, 76104
      • GSK Investigational Site
    • Lufkin, Texas, United States, 75904
      • GSK Investigational Site
    • San Antonio, Texas, United States, 78212
      • GSK Investigational Site

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Participants must be at least 18 years of age inclusive, at the time of signing the informed consent.
• Participants who are Stage 3, 4 or 5 Chronic kidney disease (CKD) (confirmed at Week-4 only) defined by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using the CKD Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) formula.
• Participants who are currently treated with stable doses (<=50% change in 4-weekly dose) for at least 8 weeks prior to and including the screening period, of rhEPO (i.e., epoetin alfa or darbepoetin alfa).
• Participants with Hgb levels between 9.0 and 11.5 g/dL, inclusive, who meet the Hgb stability criteria.
• Participants may be on stable maintenance oral iron supplementation (less than [<] 50% change in overall dose and compliance of 80% of prescribed doses in the 4 weeks prior to and including the screening period). If participants have been on intravenous (IV) iron, then participants will not have received IV iron for 8 weeks prior to the Day 1 visit.
• Male or Female participants may participate. A female participant is eligible to participate if she is not pregnant, not breastfeeding, and at least one of the following conditions applies: not a woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP), or a WOCBP who agrees to follow the contraceptive guidance during the treatment period to the follow-up visit.
• Capable of giving signed informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• On dialysis or clinical evidence of impending need to initiate dialysis within 90 days after study start (i.e., Day 1).
• Planned kidney transplant within 3 months after study start.
• A positive test for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) antibody.
• History of severe allergic or anaphylactic reactions or hypersensitivity to excipients in the investigational products
• Use of any prescription or non-prescription drugs or dietary supplements that are prohibited from screening until the end of Treatment Period 2.
• Planned or current administration of methoxy polyethylene glycol (PEG)-epoetin beta.
• The participant has participated in a clinical trial and has received an experimental investigational product within the prior 30 days or 5 half lives, whichever is longer, from screening through Day 1.
• At or below the lower limit of the reference range at screening for Vitamin B12 (may rescreen in a minimum of 8 weeks).
• Ferritin outside the range between 100 and 500 nanogram per milliliter (ng/mL), inclusive, at screening.
• Transferrin saturation (TSAT) outside the range between 15% and 40%, inclusive, at Screening.
• Folate < 2.0 ng/mL (4.5 nanomoles per liter [nmol/L]; may rescreen in a minimum of 8 weeks) at screening.
• High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) >=20 microgram per milliliter (μg/mL) at screening.
• Myocardial infarction or acute coronary syndrome: <=8 weeks prior to screening through Day 1.
• Hospitalization for greater than 24 hours: <=8 weeks prior to screening through Day 1
• Stroke or transient ischemic attack <=8 weeks prior to screening through Day 1.
• Class IV heart failure, as defined by the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification system.
• Current uncontrolled hypertension as determined by the investigator.
• QT interval corrected for heart rate using Bazett's formula (QTcB): QTcB >500 milliseconds (msec), or QTcB > 530 msec in participants with Bundle Branch Block. There is no corrected QT interval (QTc) exclusion for participants with a predominantly paced rhythm.
• Active chronic inflammatory disease that could impact erythropoiesis.
• History of bone marrow aplasia or pure red cell aplasia.
• Conditions, other than anemia associated with chronic kidney disease, which can affect erythropoiesis.
• Evidence of actively bleeding gastric, duodenal, or esophageal ulcer disease OR clinically significant gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding from <=4 weeks prior to screening through Day 1.
• Liver disease (any of the following): Alanine transaminase (ALT) >2 times upper limit of normal (ULN; screening only); Bilirubin >1.5 times ULN (screening only). Current or chronic history of liver disease, or known hepatic or biliary abnormalities (with the exception of Gilbert's syndrome or asymptomatic gallstones).
• Major surgery (excluding vascular access surgery) within the 8 weeks prior to screening through Day 1, or planned during the study.
• Blood transfusion within 8 weeks prior to screening through Day 1, or an anticipated need for blood transfusion during the study.
• Clinical evidence of an acute infection, or history of infection requiring IV antibiotic therapy from 4 weeks prior to screening through Day 1.
• History of malignancy within the two years prior to screening through Day 1 or currently receiving treatment for cancer, with the exception of localized squamous cell or basal cell carcinoma of the skin definitively treated 12 weeks prior to Day 1.
• Any other condition, clinical or laboratory abnormality, or examination finding that the investigator considers would put the participant at unacceptable risk, which may affect study compliance or prevent understanding of the aims or investigational procedures or possible consequences of the study.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: rhEPO+57Fe followed by Daprodustat+58Fe; Participants will be randomly assigned to remain on their current therapy (either epoetin alfa or darbepoetin alfa) in Treatment Period 1. For assessment of incorporation of iron into erythrocytes, participants will be administered ferrous sulfate containing a stable isotope of iron (57Fe) orally in a randomized fashion following 2 weeks of administration of randomized study treatment. At Day 29 participants will be crossed over to receive Daprodustat in Treatment Period 2. At 2 weeks following initiation of dosing in Treatment Period 2, participants will again be administered ferrous sulfate containing the stable iron isotope (58Fe) orally. Participants will be advised to maintain use of oral iron supplementation (except ferric citrate) and acid-reducing agents (example: Histamine [H2] receptor antagonists, proton pump inhibitors, antacids) at a consistent dosage and frequency.	Drug: Daprodustat; Daprodustat will be available as 1 milligram (mg), 2 mg and 4 mg tablets strengths. One tablet to be taken daily without regard for food.; Drug: rhEPO; rhEPO (epoetin alfa OR darbepoetin alfa) is commercially available in various single dose vials and single-dose prefilled syringes. It will be given as subcutaneous injection.; Drug: Ferrous sulfate containing the stable iron isotope (57Fe); 57Fe will be available in oral solution. An oral solution will be administered containing 10 mg of 57Fe as ferrous sulfate.; Drug: Ferrous sulfate containing the stable iron isotope (58Fe); 58Fe will be available in oral solution. An oral solution will be administered containing 3 mg of 58Fe as ferrous sulfate with 7 mg of 56Fe as ferrous sulfate (natural abundance Fe).
Experimental: rhEPO+58Fe followed by Daprodustat+57Fe; Participants will be randomly assigned to remain on their current therapy (either epoetin alfa or darbepoetin alfa) in Treatment Period 1. For assessment of incorporation of iron into erythrocytes, participants will be administered ferrous sulfate containing a stable isotope of iron (58Fe) orally in a randomized fashion following 2 weeks of administration of randomized study treatment. At Day 29 participants will be crossed over to receive Daprodustat in Treatment Period 2. At 2 weeks following initiation of dosing in Treatment Period 2, participants will again be administered ferrous sulfate containing the stable iron isotope (57Fe) orally. Participants will be advised to maintain use of oral iron supplementation (except ferric citrate) and acid-reducing agents (example: H2 receptor antagonists, proton pump inhibitors, antacids) at a consistent dosage and frequency.	Drug: Daprodustat; Daprodustat will be available as 1 milligram (mg), 2 mg and 4 mg tablets strengths. One tablet to be taken daily without regard for food.; Drug: rhEPO; rhEPO (epoetin alfa OR darbepoetin alfa) is commercially available in various single dose vials and single-dose prefilled syringes. It will be given as subcutaneous injection.; Drug: Ferrous sulfate containing the stable iron isotope (57Fe); 57Fe will be available in oral solution. An oral solution will be administered containing 10 mg of 57Fe as ferrous sulfate.; Drug: Ferrous sulfate containing the stable iron isotope (58Fe); 58Fe will be available in oral solution. An oral solution will be administered containing 3 mg of 58Fe as ferrous sulfate with 7 mg of 56Fe as ferrous sulfate (natural abundance Fe).
Experimental: Daprodustat+57Fe followed by rhEPO+58Fe; Participants will be randomly assigned to receive Daprodustat in Treatment Period 1. For assessment of incorporation of iron into erythrocytes, participants will be administered ferrous sulfate containing a stable isotope of iron (57Fe) orally in a randomized fashion following 2 weeks of administration of randomized study treatment. At Day 29 participants will be crossed over to receive rhEPO (either epoetin alfa or darbepoetin alfa) in Treatment Period 2. At 2 weeks following initiation of dosing in Treatment Period 2, participants will again be administered ferrous sulfate containing the stable iron isotope (58Fe) orally. Participants will be advised to maintain use of oral iron supplementation (except ferric citrate) and acid-reducing agents (example: H2 receptor antagonists, proton pump inhibitors, antacids) at a consistent dosage and frequency.	Drug: Daprodustat; Daprodustat will be available as 1 milligram (mg), 2 mg and 4 mg tablets strengths. One tablet to be taken daily without regard for food.; Drug: rhEPO; rhEPO (epoetin alfa OR darbepoetin alfa) is commercially available in various single dose vials and single-dose prefilled syringes. It will be given as subcutaneous injection.; Drug: Ferrous sulfate containing the stable iron isotope (57Fe); 57Fe will be available in oral solution. An oral solution will be administered containing 10 mg of 57Fe as ferrous sulfate.; Drug: Ferrous sulfate containing the stable iron isotope (58Fe); 58Fe will be available in oral solution. An oral solution will be administered containing 3 mg of 58Fe as ferrous sulfate with 7 mg of 56Fe as ferrous sulfate (natural abundance Fe).
Experimental: Daprodustat+58Fe followed by rhEPO+57Fe; Participants will be randomly assigned to receive Daprodustat in Treatment Period 1. For assessment of incorporation of iron into erythrocytes, participants will be administered ferrous sulfate containing a stable isotope of iron (58Fe) orally in a randomized fashion following 2 weeks of administration of randomized study treatment. At Day 29 participants will be crossed over to receive rhEPO (either epoetin alfa or darbepoetin alfa) in Treatment Period 2. At 2 weeks following initiation of dosing in Treatment Period 2, participants will again be administered ferrous sulfate containing the stable iron isotope (57Fe) orally. Participants will be advised to maintain use of oral iron supplementation (except ferric citrate) and acid-reducing agents (example: H2 receptor antagonists, proton pump inhibitors, antacids) at a consistent dosage and frequency.	Drug: Daprodustat; Daprodustat will be available as 1 milligram (mg), 2 mg and 4 mg tablets strengths. One tablet to be taken daily without regard for food.; Drug: rhEPO; rhEPO (epoetin alfa OR darbepoetin alfa) is commercially available in various single dose vials and single-dose prefilled syringes. It will be given as subcutaneous injection.; Drug: Ferrous sulfate containing the stable iron isotope (57Fe); 57Fe will be available in oral solution. An oral solution will be administered containing 10 mg of 57Fe as ferrous sulfate.; Drug: Ferrous sulfate containing the stable iron isotope (58Fe); 58Fe will be available in oral solution. An oral solution will be administered containing 3 mg of 58Fe as ferrous sulfate with 7 mg of 56Fe as ferrous sulfate (natural abundance Fe).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Percentage of Fractional Oral Iron Absorption Following Treatment With Daprodustat and rhEPO	Blood samples were collected at indicated time points for analysis of fractional oral iron absorption following treatment with Daprodustat and rhEPO. Adjusted mean and 95 percent (%) confidence interval (CI) has been presented.	Up to Day 57

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Periods 1 and 2: Change From Baseline in Serum Iron Following Treatment With Daprodustat and rhEPO	Blood samples were collected for measurement of serum iron at indicated time points. Baseline was defined as the latest pre-dose assessment with a non-missing value, including those from unscheduled visits in the associated treatment period. Change from Baseline was calculated by subtracting Baseline value from the post-dose visit value.	Baseline (Day 1), Day 14 and Day 28 in treatment periods 1 and 2 (each period is of 28 days)
Period 1 and 2: Change From Baseline in Transferrin Following Treatment With Daprodustat or rhEPO	Blood samples were collected from participants for measurement of transferrin at indicated time points. Baseline was defined as the latest pre-dose assessment with a non-missing value, including those from unscheduled visits in the associated treatment period. Change from Baseline was calculated by subtracting Baseline value from the post-dose visit value.	Baseline (Day 1), Day 14 and Day 28 in treatment periods 1 and 2 (each period is of 28 days)
Periods 1 and 2: Change From Baseline in Transferrin Saturation Following Treatment With Daprodustat or rhEPO	Blood samples were collected from participants for measurement of transferrin saturation at indicated time points. Transferrin saturation was measured as a percentage and is the ratio of serum iron and total iron-binding capacity multiplied by 100. Baseline was defined as the latest pre-dose assessment with a non-missing value, including those from unscheduled visits in the associated treatment period. Change from Baseline was calculated by subtracting Baseline value from the post-dose visit value.	Baseline (Day 1), Day 14 and Day 28 in treatment periods 1 and 2 (each period is of 28 days)
Periods 1 and 2: Change From Baseline in Soluble Transferrin Receptor Following Treatment of Daprodustat and rhEPO	Blood samples were collected from participants for measurement of soluble transferrin receptor at indicated time points. Baseline was defined as the latest pre-dose assessment with a non-missing value, including those from unscheduled visits in the associated treatment period. Change from Baseline was calculated by subtracting Baseline value from the post-dose visit value.	Baseline (Day 1), Day 14 and Day 28 in treatment periods 1 and 2 (each period is of 28 days)
Periods 1 and 2: Ratio to Baseline in Ferritin Following Treatment With Daprodustat and rhEPO	Blood samples were collected from participants for measurement of ferritin at indicated time points. Baseline was defined as the latest pre-dose assessment with a non-missing value, including those from unscheduled visits in the associated treatment period. Change from Baseline was calculated by subtracting Baseline value from the post-dose visit value. The summary of log transformed ration to baseline on markers of iron status for Ferritin is presented here.	Baseline (Day 1), Day 14 and Day 28 in treatment periods 1 and 2 (each period is of 28 days)
Periods 1 and 2: Ratio to Baseline (Day 1) in Hepcidin Following Treatment With Daprodustat and rhEPO	Blood samples were collected from participants for measurement of hepcidin at indicated time points. Baseline was defined as the latest pre-dose assessment with a non-missing value, including those from unscheduled visits in the associated treatment period. Change from Baseline was calculated by subtracting Baseline value from the post-dose visit value. The summary of log transformed ration to baseline on markers of iron status for Hepcidin is presented here.	Baseline (Day 1), Day 14 and Day 28 in treatment periods 1 and 2 (each period is of 28 days)
Periods 1 and 2: Change From Baseline in Erythroferrone Following Treatment With Daprodustat and rhEPO	Blood samples were collected from participants for measurement of erythroferrone at indicated time points. Baseline was defined as the latest pre-dose assessment with a non-missing value, including those from unscheduled visits in the associated treatment period. Change from Baseline was calculated by subtracting Baseline value from the post-dose visit value.	Baseline (Day 1), Day 14 and Day 28 in treatment periods 1 and 2 (each period is of 28 days)
Periods 1 and 2: Change From Baseline in Hemoglobin Following Treatment With Daprodustat and rhEPO	Blood samples were collected from participants for measurement of hemoglobin at indicated time points. Baseline was defined as the latest pre-dose assessment with a non-missing value, including those from unscheduled visits in the associated treatment period. Change from Baseline was calculated by subtracting Baseline value from the post-dose visit value.	Baseline (Day 1), Day 14 and Day 28 in treatment periods 1 and 2 (each period is of 28 days)
Periods 1 and 2: Change From Baseline in Hematocrit Following Treatment With Daprodustat and rhEPO	Blood samples were collected from participants for measurement of hematocrit at indicated time points. Baseline was defined as the latest pre-dose assessment with a non-missing value, including those from unscheduled visits in the associated treatment period. Change from Baseline was calculated by subtracting Baseline value from the post-dose visit value.	Baseline (Day 1), Day 14 and Day 28 in treatment periods 1 and 2 (each period is of 28 days)
Periods 1 and 2: Change From Baseline in Erythrocytes Following Treatment With Daprodustat and rhEPO	Blood samples were collected from participants for measurement of erythrocytes (red blood cells number) at indicated time points. Baseline was defined as the latest pre-dose assessment with a non-missing value, including those from unscheduled visits in the associated treatment period. Change from Baseline was calculated by subtracting Baseline value from the post-dose visit value.	Baseline (Day 1), Day 14 and Day 28 in treatment periods 1 and 2 (each period is of 28 days)
Periods 1 and 2: Change From Baseline in Erythrocyte Mean Corpuscular Volume Following Treatment With Daprodustat and rhEPO	Blood samples were collected from participants for measurement of erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume at indicated time points. Baseline was defined as the latest pre-dose assessment with a non-missing value, including those from unscheduled visits in the associated treatment period. Change from Baseline was calculated by subtracting Baseline value from the post-dose visit value.	Baseline (Day 1), Day 14 and Day 28 in treatment periods 1 and 2 (each period is of 28 days)
Periods 1 and 2: Change From Baseline in Reticulocyte Hemoglobin Following Treatment of Daprodustat and rhEPO	Blood samples were collected from participants for measurement of reticulocyte hemoglobin at indicated time points. Baseline was defined as the latest pre-dose assessment with a non-missing value, including those from unscheduled visits in the associated treatment period. Change from Baseline was calculated by subtracting Baseline value from the post-dose visit value.	Baseline (Day 1), Day 14 and Day 28 in treatment periods 1 and 2 (each period is of 28 days)
Periods 1 and 2: Change From Baseline in Reticulocytes Following Treatment With Daprodustat and rhEPO	Blood samples were collected from participants for measurement of reticulocytes number at indicated time points. Baseline was defined as the latest pre-dose assessment with a non-missing value, including those from unscheduled visits in the associated treatment period. Change from Baseline was calculated by subtracting Baseline value from the post-dose visit value.	Baseline (Day 1), Day 14 and Day 28 in treatment periods 1 and 2 (each period is of 28 days)

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of participants with any adverse event (AE)	An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant, temporally associated with the use of a study intervention, whether or not considered related to the study intervention.	Up to 73 days
Number of participants with any AE by severity	An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant, temporally associated with the use of a study intervention, whether or not considered related to the study intervention.	Up to 73 days
Number of participants with any serious AE (SAE)	A SAE is defined as any untoward medical occurrence that, at any dose may result in death, is life-threatening, may require inpatient hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization, result in persistent disability/incapacity, or may lead to any congenital anomaly or birth defect.	Up to 73 days
Number of participants with any SAE by severity	A SAE is defined as any untoward medical occurrence that, at any dose may result in death, is life-threatening, may require inpatient hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization, result in persistent disability/incapacity, or may lead to any congenital anomaly or birth defect.	Up to 73 days
Number of participants discontinued the study medication due to AE	Number of participants discontinuing study medication due to adverse event will be analyzed	Up to 73 days
Number of participants with abnormal systolic blood pressure assessment (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP)	Systolic and diastolic blood pressure will be measured in seated position with a completely automated device. Measurements will be preceded by at least 5 minutes of rest for the participant in a quiet setting without distractions	Up to 73 days
Number of participants with abnormal pulse rate	Pulse rate will be measured in seated position with a completely automated device. Measurements will be preceded by at least 5 minutes of rest for the participant in a quiet setting without distractions.	Up to 73 days
Number of participants with abnormal oral temperature	Number of participants with abnormal oral temperature will be evaluated.	Up to 73 days
Number of participants with abnormal respiratory rate	Number of participants with abnormal respiratory rate will be evaluated.	Up to 73 days

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: GlaxoSmithKline
• Investigators: Study Director: GSK Clinical Trials, GlaxoSmithKline

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Natale P, Palmer SC, Jaure A, Hodson EM, Ruospo M, Cooper TE, Hahn D, Saglimbene VM, Craig JC, Strippoli GF. Hypoxia-inducible factor stabilisers for the anaemia of chronic kidney disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022 Aug 25;8(8):CD013751. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD013751.pub2.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 30, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 5, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): July 5, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 1, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 1, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): March 7, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 27, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 26, 2024
• Last Verified: March 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Anemia; Chronic kidney disease; Recombinant human erythropoietin; Daprodustat
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Hematologic Diseases; Anemia; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Trace Elements; Micronutrients; Iron
• Other Study ID Numbers: 201771

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: IPD for this study will be made available via the Clinical Study Data Request site.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: IPD will be made available within 6 months of publishing the results of the primary endpoints, key secondary endpoints and safety data of the study.
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Access is provided after a research proposal is submitted and has received approval from the Independent Review Panel and after a Data Sharing Agreement is in place. Access is provided for an initial period of 12 months but an extension can be granted, when justified, for up to another 12 months .
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; SAP; ICF; CSR

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No