Method of Treating Chronic Kidney Disease

Abstract

The present invention discloses pharmaceutical-grade ferric organic compounds having enhanced dissolution rate. These ferric organic compounds, including but are not limited to ferric citrate, are useful for treating chronic kidney disease.

Description

[0001]This application claims priority of PCT / US2006 / 032585, filed Aug. 18, 2006, and U.S. provisional application No. 60 / 763,253, filed Jan. 30, 2006. The entire contents and disclosures of the preceding applications axe incorporated by reference into this application.[0002]Throughout this application, various publications are referenced. Disclosures of these publications in their entireties are hereby incorporated by reference into this application to more fully describe the state of the art to which this invention pertains.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]This invention relates to the uses of pharmaceutical-grade ferric organic compounds to treat chronic kidney disease.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]Chronic kidney disease is a gradual and progressive loss of the ability of the kidneys to excrete wastes, concentrate urine, and conserve electrolytes. Unlike acute kidney failure with its abrupt but reversible of kidney function, the kidney functions in chronic kidney disease progress a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0025]In one embodiment, treatment with the ferric organic compound would prevent, reverse, maintain, or delay progression of chronic kidney disease. In another embodiment, development of hyperparathyroidism, bone disorder, or cardiovascular disease in the subject is prevented, reversed, maintained or delayed. In yet another embodiment, calcium phosphate precipitation in the subject's renal tissue is prevented, reversed, maintained or delayed. In yet another embodiment, kidney stone formation is prevented, reversed, maintained or delayed. In still yet another embodiment, development of metabolic acidosis in the subject is prevented, reversed, maintained or delayed.

Problems solved by technology

Patients suffering from ESRD cannot survive without dialysis or kidney transplantation.

The high prevalence rate of chronic kidney disease poses a significant burden on the healthcare system.

One of the most apparent economic costs associated with chronic kidney disease is the development of end stage renal disease which, in the U.S. alone, costs approximately U.S. $23 billion in 2001 and is estimated to increase to U.S. $35 billion a year in 2010.

Based on these results, lowering serum phosphate and calcium phosphate product levels as well as increasing serum citrate and 3-phosphocitrate levels may decrease the damage of the nephron and subsequently delay the progress of chronic kidney disease.

The result is abnormal serum concentrations of calcium and phosphor us and lead to bone disease and extraskeletal calcification.

Renal acidosis result in bone demineralization, hyperparathyroidism, increase protein catabolism, insulin resistance and stunted growth.

If not treated, kidney stone could cause urine obstruction, urinary tract infection and may result in development of chronic kidney disease.

Once the degeneration process of kidney begins, there is no cure for chronic renal failure to date.

However, in reality many physicians fail to use these drug classes in patients with renal insufficiency because these two classes of drug may potentially increase the level of either serum creatinine (an indication of renal deterioration) or potassium (most common life-threatening emergency in patient with end stage renal disease).

Therefore, these drugs appear not to be commonly used on patients who already developed renal disease, and these drugs are not expected to delay the progression of chronic kidney disease.

However, this publication did not provide any data to show whether these novel forms of ferric organic compounds would be useful in providing treatment for patients with chronic kidney disease.

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