Roxadustat is a new oral medicine used to treat anemia (a decrease in red blood cells) caused by chronic kidney disease (CKD). It is the first in a new class of drugs known as hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors (HIF-PHIs). It works by increasing the production of erythropoietin, a hormone that stimulates the body to produce more red blood cells. It has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is currently being used in Europe and Japan. Roxadustat has been shown to reduce the need for blood transfusions and improve overall quality of life in patients with CKD.
Roxadustat is a prescription medication sold under the brand name Evrenzo. It is classified as an anti-anemia medication [1].
It works by increasing the body's natural production of erythropoietin (EPO), a hormone that stimulates the production of red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body, so increasing their production helps treat anemia, a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells.
Roxadustat is specifically approved to treat anemia caused by chronic kidney disease (CKD) in adults, both for those who require dialysis and those who do not [2].