WIXOM, Mich., Nov. 19, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rockwell Medical (Nasdaq:RMTI), a fully-integrated biopharmaceutical company offering innovative products and services targeting end-stage renal disease (ESRD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and iron deficiency anemia, announced today that the Company will present new data at the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) meeting being held in Denver, Colorado, on its late-stage investigational drug Soluble Ferric Pyrophosphate(SFP), which is being studied for the treatment of iron-deficiency anemia in ESRD patients,
Data from the Company's Phase IIb dose ranging clinical trial demonstrated a significant 13% dose reduction in ESA and 0.79 g/dL increase in hemoglobin compared to placebo in the intermediate therapeutic dose groups of 12 and 10 µg iron per dL respectively. Further data revealed the placebo group did not show a significant decline in Hgb despite iron withholding, suggesting that prior IV-iron therapy had resulted in excess iron stores.
Ajay Gupta, Chief Scientific Officer of Rockwell, stated, "This study data on ESA-sparing with concomitant increase in hemoglobin provides important information about SFP and it's unique mode of action once it enters the bloodstream via the dialysate. By transferring iron rapidly and directly to apo-transferrin, SFP appears to overcome inflammatory reticuloendothelial block thereby delivering iron directly to the bone marrow for hemoglobin generation and enhancing ESA responsiveness."
Dr. Ajay Singh, Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, commented, "This clinical trial data may call into question the therapeutic strategy of liberalizing IV iron administration and targeting higher serum ferritin levels in an effort to reduce ESA utilization, as it may further aggravate the state of iron overload."
The study findings were presented during the poster session at the annual American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Annual Meeting entitled, "Reduced ESA Requirement by Continuous Delivery of Soluble Ferric Pyrophosphate (SFP) via Dialysate in CKD−HD Patients" and "IV Iron Therapy Leads to Iron Overload in CKD-HD Patients" on Friday, November 19, 2010; 10:00am−2:30pm.
About SFP:
SFP is a novel, investigational, continuous iron therapy in late-stage clinical development, designed to treat iron deficiency anemia in ESRD patients. In contrast to intravenous (IV) iron delivery, SFP is a proprietary, water-soluble iron that travels to the bloodstream and binds directly to apo-transferrin and then travels to bone marrow to assist in forming a healthy red blood cell, similar to normal physiologic dietary iron intake. SFP is a continuous iron replacement treatment, delivering small doses of iron during every dialysis session, to replenish the 5-7mg of iron lost during the dialysis procedure, thereby maintaining hemoglobin in the target range as per Kidney Disease Quality Outcomes Initiative (KDQOI) recommendations. Clinical trial data to date suggests that SFP, delivered via dialysate during each dialysis treatment, maintains optimal iron balance and avoids liver toxicity while decreasing associated drug administration costs. Academic studies have shown that more frequent maintenance doses of iron improve therapeutic response to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA's), thereby decreasing the ESA doses needed to maintain hemoglobin in the target range. Rockwell has licensed exclusive world-wide rights to manufacture and sell SFP and has obtained patent protection for SFP in multiple countries, including the three largest dialysis markets in the world: the United States, Japan, and the European Union. Based on current market data, the U.S. dialysis market for IV iron is approximately $560 million annually while global market potential is approximately $1 billion.
For a demonstration of SFP's unique mechanism of action, please view the animation video at .
About Rockwell Medical:
Rockwell Medical is a fully-integrated biopharmaceutical company offering innovative products and services initially targeting end-stage renal disease (ESRD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and iron deficiency anemia. An established manufacturer and leader in delivering high-quality hemodialysis concentrates/dialysates to dialysis providers and distributors in the U.S. and abroad, Rockwell provides products that are used to maintain human life by removing toxins and replacing critical nutrients in the dialysis patient's bloodstream. Dialysis is a process that duplicates kidney function for patients who suffer from ESRD. There are approximately 400,000 ESRD patients in the United States, a prevalence growing at an annual rate of 5-6 percent, while there are approximately 2 million ESRD patients world-wide.
The Company is currently developing unique, proprietary renal drug therapies for iron treatment. These exclusive renal drug therapies support disease management initiatives to improve the quality of life and care of dialysis patients and are designed to deliver safe and effective therapy, while decreasing drug administration costs and improving patient convenience. Rockwell Medical is developing a pipeline of drug therapies, including extensions of SFP for indications outside of hemodialysis. Please visit for more information.
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Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "continue," "predict," "forecast," "project," "plan", "intend" or similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or current expectations, are forward-looking statements. While the Company believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking statements, which are based on information available to us on the date of this release. These forward looking statements are based upon current estimates and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those set forth in Rockwell Medical's SEC filings. Thus, actual results could be materially different. Rockwell Medical expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
CONTACT: Rockwell Medical Carl Belczynski, VP Investor Relations (248) 960-9009 The Trout Group LLC Brian Korb, VP (646) 378-2923 LaVoie Group Media Contact: Lisa Rivero, Director, Media Relations (978)745-4200 ext. 106