(Alliance News) - GlaxoSmithKline PLC on Wednesday said it has submitted a new drug application in Japan for anaemia drug daprodustat.
The application was submitted to the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour & Welfare for the approval of daprodustat as a treatment for patients with renal anaemia resulting from chronic kidney disease.
Chronic kidney disease patients are often anaemic as their kidneys do not make enough erythropoietin, which is "a hormone involved in prompting the production of red blood cells".
Daprodustat is a hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor, a new class of drugs which encourage the bone marrow to increase red blood cell production. As present, the drug has not been approved for renal anaemia or any other condition.
Hal Barron, chief scientific officer and president of Research & Development at Glaxo, said: "Around 3.5 million patients in Japan have anaemia associated with renal disease which can result in weakness and fatigue. We are excited about our first regulatory filing for daprodustat which, if approved, will provide a new and convenient oral treatment option for these patients."
Shares in Glaxo were down 0.1% at 1,664.70 pence in London on Wednesday morning.
Glaxosmithkline (GSK)
