Drug Overview
Dexferrum (iron dextran; Luitpold Pharmaceuticals) is an intravenous (IV) iron maintenance treatment used to help elevate hemoglobin levels in patients with anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD). The iron is transported via transferrin to erythroid precursor cells. Erythroid precursor cells incorporate the iron into hemoglobin as the cell matures into a red blood cell. Dexferrum, and other iron therapies, are often used in combination with erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) therapies to increase the number of patients able to achieve target hemoglobin levels compared to patients on ESA therapies alone (Singh, 2008).
Dexferrum has a significantly less attractive clinical and commercial profile compared to more recent IV iron therapies, Injectafer (ferric carboxymaltose; Vifor/Luitpold Pharmaceuticals/Zeria), Venofer (poly-nuclear iron (III)-hydroxide in sucrose; Vifor/Luitpold Pharmaceuticals), and Feraheme (ferumoxytol; AMAG Pharmaceuticals), due to increased risk of iron toxicity and a highly inconvenient dosing strategy.
Dexferrum (iron dextran; Luitpold Pharmaceuticals) is an intravenous (IV) iron maintenance treatment used to help elevate hemoglobin levels in patients with anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD). The iron is transported via transferrin to erythroid precursor cells. Erythroid precursor cells incorporate the iron into hemoglobin as the cell matures into a red blood cell. Dexferrum, and other iron therapies, are often used in combination with erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) therapies to increase the number of patients able to achieve target hemoglobin levels compared to patients on ESA therapies alone (Singh, 2008).
Dexferrum has a significantly less attractive clinical and commercial profile compared to more recent IV iron therapies, Injectafer (ferric carboxymaltose; Vifor/Luitpold Pharmaceuticals/Zeria), Venofer (poly-nuclear iron (III)-hydroxide in sucrose; Vifor/Luitpold Pharmaceuticals), and Feraheme (ferumoxytol; AMAG Pharmaceuticals), due to increased risk of iron toxicity and a highly inconvenient dosing strategy.
Table of Contents
Product ProfilesDexferrum: Anemia in chronic kidney disease
List of Figures
Figure 1: Dexferrum sales for anemia in chronic kidney disease across the five major EU markets, by country, 2015-24
List of Tables
Table 1: Dexferrum sales for anemia in chronic kidney disease across the five major EU markets, by country ($m), 2015-24
