Benzinga | Nov 8, 2021 11:37AM EST

GlaxoSmithKline Spotlights Encouraging Data For Anemia Drug

* GlaxoSmithKline plc (NYSE:GSK) announced positive results from the ASCEND program comprised of five Phase 3 studies assessing daprodustat for anemia due to chronic kidney disease (CKD).

* Daprodustat is an investigational oral hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor (HIF-PHI).

* For both dialysis-dependent and non-dialysis patients, daprodustat matched up to traditional erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) in terms of heart safety.

* Among the group undergoing dialysis (N=2,964), the drug met both the -0.75 g/dL margin for mean hemoglobin levels (actual: 0.18) and the 1.25 hazard ratio for the first adjudicated MACE (actual: 0.93).

* Among the non-dialysis cohort (N=3,872), the drug spurred a mean treatment difference for hemoglobin of 0.08 g/dL, while the MACE hazard ratio was 1.03.

* Related Link: GlaxoSmithKline's Anemia Candidate Shows Promise In Late-Stage Studies.

* Price Action: GSK shares are down 1.49% at $42.84 during the market session on the last check Monday.