title: C.E.R.A.: pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and efficacy in patients with chronic kidney disease.
abstract: C.E.R.A., a continuous erythropoietin receptor activator, has been developed for the treatment of anaemia in patients with chronic kidney disease. Compared with other erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, C.E.R.A. has a unique pharmacological profile, including a longer elimination half-life and slower clearance rate. This allows C.E.R.A. to be administered at extended intervals up to once every month. Phase III clinical trials have shown that C.E.R.A. once every 2 weeks corrects anaemia in erythropoiesis-stimulating agent-naive patients who are on or are not on dialysis, whereas once-monthly C.E.R.A. maintains stable haemoglobin levels when patients are directly converted from more frequent epoetin or darbepoetin alpha administration. C.E.R.A. is well tolerated. This review summarises clinical data on C.E.R.A. and discusses the potential effect of this novel agent on clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Direttore Struttura Complessa di Nefrologia e Dialisi, Azienda Ospedaliera di Lecco, Ospedale Alessandro Manzoni, Via Dell' Eremo 9/11, 23900 Lecco, Italy. f.locatelli@ospedale.lecco.it
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Locatelli
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Reigner
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006397:Hematinics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006397:Hematinics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C508420:continuous erythropoietin receptor activator; D004921:Erythropoietin; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols