vadadustat at a glance
Medicine class
Hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl-hydroxylase inhibitor (HIF-PHI).
Licensed role
Symptomatic anaemia associated with chronic kidney disease in adults on chronic maintenance dialysis.
Administration
An oral film-coated tablet swallowed whole, with or without food.
What is vadadustat used for?
The selected UK product has one licensed indication.
Treatment of symptomatic anaemia associated with chronic kidney disease in adults receiving chronic maintenance dialysis.
It is not licensed for chronic kidney disease-associated anaemia in people not receiving dialysis.
How does vadadustat work?
Vadadustat inhibits enzymes that normally break down hypoxia-inducible factor. This increases the body’s erythropoietin production, improves iron mobilisation, and increases red blood cell and haemoglobin production.
vadadustat preparations and strengths
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 150 mg, 300 mg
How to take vadadustat
Swallow the film-coated tablet whole with water; do not chew or crush it. It can be taken with or without food and in relation to dialysis as prescribed.
Separate administration from oral iron products, phosphate binders, and products containing calcium, magnesium or aluminium.
Do not change or restart treatment without the prescriber’s direction.
vadadustat side effects
Common or expected effects
- Diarrhoea
- Headache
- Cough
- Constipation
- Nausea or vomiting
- Low blood pressure
- Raised liver enzymes on blood tests
Get urgent medical advice
- High or worsening blood pressure
- Blood clots, including heart attack, stroke, pulmonary embolism, deep-vein thrombosis or dialysis-access thrombosis
- Seizures
- Serious hypersensitivity or allergic reaction
- Persistent or clinically significant liver-test abnormalities
vadadustat in pregnancy
Human pregnancy data are limited. Vadadustat should be considered during pregnancy only when the expected benefit justifies the potential fetal risk, following specialist assessment.
vadadustat while breastfeeding
It is unknown whether vadadustat enters human breast milk, and a risk to the infant cannot be excluded. The prescriber and patient should decide whether to stop breastfeeding or treatment after weighing their benefits.
vadadustat interactions
Check the complete medicine list, including supplements and phosphate binders, before and during treatment.
Oral iron and iron-containing phosphate binders
They can markedly reduce vadadustat absorption, so administration must be separated.
Sevelamer, calcium acetate and other multivalent-cation products
They can reduce absorption and require separated administration.
Probenecid and other OAT1/OAT3 inhibitors
They may increase vadadustat exposure.
Common questions about vadadustat
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is vadadustat used for?
It is licensed for symptomatic anaemia associated with chronic kidney disease in adults receiving chronic maintenance dialysis.
Is it used before dialysis starts?
No. The selected licence is limited to adults on chronic maintenance dialysis.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.