AstraZeneca advances scientific leadership in cardiovascular and renal diseases with over 60 abstracts collectively at ASN Kidney Week 2022 and AHA Scientific Sessions 2022

Depth and breadth of data underscore commitment to addressing areas of high unmet need in cardiorenal and rare nephrology diseases.

AstraZeneca will present over 60 abstracts across its industry-leading Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM) portfolio and from Alexion, AstraZeneca’s Rare Disease group, at the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week from 3-6 November 2022 and the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions occurring 5-7 November 2022.

With robust science across both medical congresses, AstraZeneca demonstrates its ambition to fundamentally transform cardiorenal care and advance patient outcomes by unravelling the underlying causes of disease, developing diagnostic strategies and delivering innovative, life-changing solutions for the millions of people affected by this interconnected spectrum of diseases. Additionally, Alexion will present data highlighting scientific advancements that further the understanding of complement inhibition in the treatment of rare nephrology diseases.

Mene Pangalos, Executive Vice President, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, said: “Scientific advances are revealing the connection between cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases, helping to drive earlier diagnosis and opportunities for integrated treatment approaches. We look forward to sharing insights across our portfolio, including our early science targeting specific disease drivers and data from both the DELIVER and DAPA-CKD Phase III trials which build on the science demonstrating the unique cardiorenal protection and mortality benefit of Farxiga.”

Farxiga in heart failure (HF) – setting a new standard in HF management

New late-breaking data from the DELIVER Phase III trial presented at AHA assess the effects of Farxiga on health status, on patients with recurrent cardiac events, the impact based on use of other therapies, on gender or race and more^1-5. These data reinforce the joint 2022 guidelines issued by AHA, the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA), recommending earlier diagnosis and earlier initiation of guideline-directed medical treatment in patients with HF⁶. Altogether, the pooled analysis from the Phase III DELIVER and DAPA-HF trials underpins the role of Farxiga in clinical practice as a treatment that can be initiated right away while waiting for ejection fraction (EF) to be measured and that showed mortality benefit across the full EF range⁷.

Farxiga in chronic kidney disease (CKD) – reinforcing leadership in CKD

New subgroup data from the DAPA-CKD Phase III trial assess effect in patients with microalbuminuria, how Farxiga use impacts hospital admissions and healthcare utilisation and highlights AstraZeneca’s commitment to help prevent or slow the progression of CKD in this large patient population^8-10. These data presented at ASN also support recent updates to the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines, which highlight the need for preventive treatment strategies that reduce the risk of adverse kidney and cardiovascular (CV) outcomes¹¹.

REVEAL-CKD – emphasising the need for earlier diagnosis

REVEAL-CKD data also shed light on the importance of earlier diagnosis of CKD, with the prevalence of undiagnosed CKD continuing to rise. REVEAL-CKD further demonstrated that once a diagnosis was made, patients did receive timely CKD monitoring and management of their disease, leading to patient benefits¹².

Lokelma – advancing proactive hyperkalaemia (HK) management

New Lokelma data from the comprehensive CRYSTALIZE evidence programme, which is poised to disrupt the current management of HK, highlight the common and detrimental effects of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi) down titration and/or discontinuation, resulting in suboptimal care of patients with CKD and/or HF, as well as patient preference amongst potassium (K⁺) binder treatments^13,14. The 2020 and 2021 KDIGO^15,16, 2021 European Society of Cardiology (ESC)¹⁷ and 2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA guidelines⁶ recognise novel K⁺ binders like Lokelma as an important management option to optimise RAASi therapy, a group of medicines key to slowing progression and reducing mortality risk in patients with CKD and/or HF.

Compass Programme – highlighting the importance of earlier diagnosis in hereditary amyloid transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR)

Findings from the Compass Programme provide important insights on genetic testing for ATTR. Amyloidosis is progressive and may be systemic, affecting different organs within the body (i.e., heart, kidneys, peripheral nerves)¹⁸.

Amyloidosis diseases can be complex, difficult to diagnose and, in many cases, fatal if left untreated^19-21. AstraZeneca, in partnership with Ionis, and Alexion, are advancing multiple assets and novel science in amyloidosis, including treatments for ATTR, cardiomyopathy (CM) and polyneuropathy (PN), as well as amyloid light chain (AL) amyloidosis.

Rare nephrology – expanding our leadership in complement inhibition

Alexion will present an analysis from the global atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) registry involving long-term outcomes in patients who are treated with Soliris, a characterisation of patients with thrombotic microangiopathy and triggering or associated events from the aHUS registry, as well as a tool (PLASMIC score) that may aid in the diagnosis of aHUS^22-24.

Alexion is also expanding its focus in rare nephrology with multiple assets in its clinical development programmes – including Ultomiris (a C5 inhibitor) and ALXN2050 (an oral factor D inhibitor) – which are being investigated as potential treatments for proliferative lupus nephritis (LN) and immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). The presentations at ASN, which include clinical trial and real-world data across several therapeutic areas, will help to advance the understanding of these rare nephrology diseases and foster scientific exchange^22-26.

AstraZeneca abstracts at ASN Kidney Week 2022 include:

ASN Kidney Week 2022 abstracts are available online.

AstraZeneca abstracts at AHA Scientific Sessions 2022 include:

AHA Scientific Sessions 2022 abstracts are available online.

Notes

AstraZeneca in CVRM

Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), part of BioPharmaceuticals, forms one of AstraZeneca’s main disease areas and is a key growth driver for the Company. By following the science to understand more clearly the underlying links between the heart, kidneys and pancreas, AstraZeneca is investing in a portfolio of medicines for organ protection and improving outcomes by slowing disease progression, reducing risks and tackling co-morbidities. The Company’s ambition is to modify or halt the natural course of CVRM diseases and potentially regenerate organs and restore function, by continuing to deliver transformative science that improves treatment practices and CV health for millions of patients worldwide.

Alexion

Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease, is the group within AstraZeneca focused on rare diseases, created following the 2021 acquisition of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. As a leader in rare diseases for 30 years, Alexion is focused on serving patients and families affected by rare diseases and devastating conditions through the discovery, development and commercialisation of life-changing medicines. Alexion focuses its research efforts on novel molecules and targets in the complement cascade and its development efforts on haematology, nephrology, neurology, metabolic disorders, cardiology and ophthalmology. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Alexion has offices around the globe and serves patients in more than 50 countries.

AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN) is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialisation of prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Diseases, and BioPharmaceuticals, including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. Please visit astrazeneca.com and follow the Company on Twitter @AstraZeneca.

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References

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2. Jhund P, et al. First and repeat hospitalizations for heart failure in patients with heart failure with mildly reduced and preserved ejection fraction: An analysis of DELIVER. Presented at: American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2022, 5-7 November 2022, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
3. Jhund P, et al. Baseline characteristics, outcomes, and treatment response to dapagliflozin in patients treated with an MRA or ARNI in DELIVER. Presented at: American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2022, 5-7 November 2022, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
4. Solomon S, et al. Sex differences in characteristics, outcomes and treatment response with dapagliflozin across the range of ejection fraction in patients with heart failure: a pooled analysis of DAPA-HF and DELIVER. Presented at: American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2022, 5-7 November 2022, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
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12. Tangri N, et al. REVEAL-CKD: Management and monitoring of patients with CKD stage 3 in France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the USA. Presented at: American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week 2022, 3-6 November 2022, Orlando, Florida, USA
13. Ni Z, et al. DIALIZE China: A phase 3b study to reduce pre-dialysis hyperkalaemia with sodium zirconium cyclosilicate in Chinese subjects. Presented at: American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week 2022, 3-6 November 2022, Orlando, Florida, USA.
14. Wheeler D, et al. APPETIZE: Palatability of and preference for potassium binders in patients with chronic kidney disease and hyperkalaemia. Presented at: American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week 2022, 3-6 November 2022, Orlando, Florida, USA.
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22. Siedlecki A, et al. Characterization of patients with thrombotic microangiopathy and triggering/associated events: A global aHUS registry analysis. Presented at: American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week 2022, 3-6 November 2022, Orlando, Florida, USA.
23. Greenbaum L, et al. Long-term outcomes in eculizumab-treated patients enrolled in the global aHUS registry. Presented at: American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week 2022, 3-6 November 2022, Orlando, Florida, USA.
24. Uriol M, et al. PLASMIC score to aid diagnosis of aHUS: A post-hoc analysis of data from C5 inhibitor trials. Presented at: American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week 2022, 3-6 November 2022, Orlando, Florida, USA.
25. Garlo K, et al. A phase 2 study evaluating the efficacy and safety of ravulizumab in patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) or proliferative lupus nephritis (LN). Presented at: American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week 2022, 3-6 November 2022, Orlando, Florida, USA.
26. Garlo K, et al. A phase 2 study evaluating the efficacy and safety of ALXN2050, a complement factor D inhibitor, in patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) or proliferative lupus nephritis (LN). Presented at: American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week 2022, 3-6 November 2022, Orlando, Florida, USA.