(Reuters) – AstraZeneca on Friday said it would discontinue two late-stage trials looking at the potential benefits of its drug Lokelma in the management of hyperkalaemia across the cardiorenal spectrum.
Hyperkalemia (HK) is a chronic condition characterised by high levels of potassium in the blood.
The therapy, which provides rapid potassium reduction and sustained potassium control, has been approved for the treatment of a broader HK patient population in 56 countries globally.
The Anglo-Swedish drugmaker scrapped the two trials – STABILIZE-CKD and DIALIZE-Outcomes Phase III evidence – due to substantially increased enrolment timelines and low event rates, respectively.
“The decision to discontinue the trials is not due to safety concerns and the positive benefit-risk of Lokelma does not change in the approved indication,” AstraZeneca said in a statement.
(Reporting by Eva Mathews in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich and Mrigank Dhaniwala)
