First patient enrolled in CARE-HK in HF to evaluate role of Veltassa® (patiromer) in enabling RAASi treatment
Regulatory News:
Vifor Pharma today announced that the first patient has been enrolled in the large scale registry CARE-HK in HF (cardiovascular and renal treatment in HF patients with or at high risk for HK). This non-interventional clinical study aims to better understand renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi) treatment decisions in clinical practice, potential barriers to achieving optimal guideline-directed care in HF patients with or at high risk for HK, and to assess how Veltassa® may be used in the management of this patient population.
“One of the most pressing issues in management of chronic heart failure is that therapies that have proven to reduce the risk of death and hospitalizations, and are thus strongly recommended by the guidelines, are not optimally used in clinical practice. This is certainly the case with RAASi, which are under-used in many patients, especially those with or at high risk of hyperkalemia,” said Dr. Mikhail Kosiborod, cardiologist at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute, Vice President of Research at Saint Luke’s Health System and Professor of Medicine at University of Missouri-Kansas City. “CARE-HK in HF will investigate the patterns of RAASi use, and barriers to treatment optimization, and examine whether adherence to guidelines is associated with improved real-world outcomes. This data from a large, international, prospective registry – the first of its kind to focus on this vulnerable patient group – will be very useful in future efforts to optimize the quality of care.”
Dr. Stefan Anker, Professor at Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, added: “Hyperkalemia is frequent in HF patients and when a patient experienced it for the first time, there is a high likelihood to experience it again. Hyperkalemia is too rarely managed effectively. Taking care of hyperkalemia chronically may be the key to increase our ability to treat more patients with guideline recommended therapies such as RAASi and MRAs to meet the therapeutic goals. By learning from the CARE-HK in HF registry about the RAASi treatment patterns and the management of hyperkalemia, we may improve the current clinical practice for our HF patients with or at high risk of HK.”
Dr. Klaus Henning Jensen, Chief Medical Officer Vifor Pharma commented: “I am very pleased about the enrollment of the first patient in the CARE-HK in HF registry, which to date is the most important commitment in real-world evidence to evaluate RAASi therapy in combination with the use of Veltassa®. CARE-HK in HF will help the medical community to better understand the potential value of Veltassa® in treating hyperkalemia. We are looking forward to quickly ramping up enrollment to meet interest from participating hospitals and physicians.”
About CARE-HK in HF
This non-interventional, international, multi-center registry includes approximately 5,000 patients in 11 countries and 185 sites in Europe and the US. As a primary objective, CARE-HK in HF sets out to describe RAASi treatment patterns, specifically in the context of HK management, and to evaluate the potential role of Veltassa® in HF patients using RAASi therapy in clinical practice by comparing patients treated and not treated with Veltassa®. Patients with chronic heart failure diagnosed at least three months prior to enrollment and with or at greater risk of HK are eligible. They will be receiving renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors and either receiving, or be candidates for, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) treatment per a relevant treatment guideline. Data will be collected two years retrospectively or from the onset of HF, and each patient will follow routine clinical care prospectively for two to four years. First results on the baseline data and retrospective analyses are expected in 2022, with topline results anticipated for 2024.
About Vifor Pharma Group
Vifor Pharma Group is a global pharmaceuticals company. It aims to become the global leader in iron deficiency, nephrology and cardio-renal therapies. The company is a partner of choice for pharmaceuticals and innovative patient-focused solutions. Vifor Pharma Group strives to help patients around the world with severe and chronic diseases lead better, healthier lives. The company develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products for precision patient care. Vifor Pharma Group holds a leading position in all its core business activities and consists of the following companies: Vifor Pharma and Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma (a joint company with Fresenius Medical Care). Vifor Pharma Group is headquartered in Switzerland, and listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX Swiss Exchange, VIFN, ISIN: CH0364749348).
For more information, please visit viforpharma.com.
About Veltassa®
Veltassa® is a sodium-free potassium binder approved for the treatment of hyperkalaemia. Veltassa® should not replace emergency treatment for life-threatening hyperkalaemia. Made in powder form consisting of smooth, spherical beads, Veltassa® is mixed with water and taken once a day with food. Veltassa® is not absorbed and acts within the gastrointestinal tract. It binds to potassium in exchange for calcium, primarily in the colon. The potassium is then excreted from the body through the normal excretion process.
About hyperkalemia
HK can cause life-threatening abnormal heart rhythm and even sudden death1. There are often no warning symptoms, meaning patients can unknowingly experience recurring spikes in potassium levels and be at risk of cardiac events.
References:
1 Desai AS, et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 2007;50:1959–66.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210427005946/en/
Contact information
Media Relations
Nathalie Ponnier
Global Head Corporate Communications
+41 79 957 96 73
media@viforpharma.com
Investor Relations
Julien Vignot
Head of Investor Relations
+41 58 851 66 90
investors@viforpharma.com
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Lone Star Announces Sale of SPX FLOW to ITT Inc.5.12.2025 14:30:00 EET | Press release
Lone Star Funds (“Lone Star”) today announced the signing by an affiliate of Lone Star Fund XI, LP of a definitive agreement to sell SPX FLOW, Inc. (“SPX FLOW”), a leading provider of highly engineered equipment and process technologies for attractive end markets including industrial, health and nutrition, to ITT Inc. (NYSE: ITT) for $4.775 billion in cash and shares of common stock. Based in Charlotte, N.C., SPX FLOW focuses on process technologies delivering mixing, blending, fluid handling, separation, thermal heat transfer and other solutions integral to industrial, health and nutrition markets. The company has operations in more than 25 countries and sales in more than 140 countries. In partnership with Lone Star, SPX FLOW has focused on improving its sales execution and operating platform, while ensuring high quality and innovative product development. The management team has improved the company’s commercial organization and executed growth initiatives to build its presence in e
AmTrust Financial Services and Blackstone Credit & Insurance Close Strategic Transaction and Launch Newly Formed Multinational MGA Company Named ANV Group Holdings Ltd.5.12.2025 14:00:00 EET | Press release
AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. (“AmTrust” or the “Company”), a global specialty property casualty insurer, and Blackstone Credit & Insurance (“BXCI”), today announced the closing of a strategic transaction under which AmTrust and funds managed by BXCI have partnered to spin-off certain of AmTrust’s Managing General Agencies (“MGAs”) and fee-based businesses in the U.S., United Kingdom, and Continental Europe, into ANV Group Holdings Ltd. (“ANV”), a newly formed independent company, following receipt of regulatory approvals. AmTrust and ANV have entered into a ten-year capacity agreement through which AmTrust will remain the underwriter for the existing books of business offered through the MGAs. As previously announced on September 15, 2025, the agreement includes seven AmTrust subsidiaries: ANV Specialty, Risico, Collegiate, ANV Nordic, Arc Legal, Qualis, and Abacus. These businesses provide diverse risk and insurance coverages including cyber excess and surplus (E&S), directors and
Galderma Opens up New Chapter for Sculptra ® with MDR Certification and New Expanded Indication for Body5.12.2025 08:00:00 EET | Press release
Galderma (SIX: GALD), the pure-play dermatology category leader, today announced the certification of Sculptra for body indications in the European Union (EU) following its certification under the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR). This expands Sculptra’s current clinical use on the face, to include four new areas: gluteal area, posterior thighs, décolletage, and upper arms. Sculptra can be used across these areas to address varied treatment goals – from improving skin quality (including the improvement in cellulite appearance), to enhancing firmness, as well as lift, projection, and contouring.1-5 Sculptra’s versatility allows practitioners to meet each patient’s unique needs, delivering natural-looking, long-lasting improvements across face and body. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251204988559/en/ Meeting the moment: evolving patient needs As aesthetic expectations shift, patients are seeking more holistic
Northern Escape Heli-Skiing Takes the Title of “World’s Best Heli-Ski-Operator” for the 4th Year Running5.12.2025 03:40:00 EET | Press release
Northern Escape Heli-Skiing (NEH) has been named World’s Best Heli-Ski Operator 2025 by the World Ski Awards, marking its fourth straight victory following years 2022, 2023 and 2024. This recognition places NEH amongst an elite group of ski tourism operators consistently voted best in the world by industry leaders and enthusiasts alike. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251204074550/en/ A four-year run built on reliability NEH operates in British Columbia’s Skeena Mountains, where deep northern snow and vast terrain come together with small-group heli-skiing and heli snowboarding. When helicopters can’t safely fly, NEH has cat skiing readily available as a backup — an exceedingly rare offering in this industry. The operation spans over 833,571 wild acres of alpine bowls, glaciers and old-growth tree skiing. The NEH experience Guests choose from three lodge formats designed for different group styles and expectat
Helical Fusion, Developer of Next-Generation Clean Energy Through Nuclear Fusion, Completes USD 5.5M Series A Extension Round5.12.2025 02:00:00 EET | Press release
Helical Fusion Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Takaya Taguchi; hereafter “Helical Fusion”), which is developing a next-generation energy source using Japan’s original Helical Stellarator technology to realize commercially viable fusion power plant in the 2030s, announced the completion of its Series A Extension round, raising approximately USD 5.5 million (≈ JPY 870 million). The round included investments from “Ecrowd NEXT”, a fund designed for individual investors, as well as multiple corporate investors and individual investors. As a result, Helical Fusion’s total Series A funding, including loans, amounts to approximately USD 21 million (≈ JPY 3.2 billion), bringing the company’s cumulative fundraising—including grants and loans—to approximately USD 38 million (≈ JPY 6.0 billion). With this funding, Helical Fusion will further accelerate development under its flagship program, the Helix Program—a comprehensive roadmap to achieve the world’s first commercially viable fu
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom