Pill could replace needles for Kidney-Related anemia

NCT ID NCT03329196

Completed Disease control Sponsor: Tanabe Pharma Corporation Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This phase 3 trial tested an oral drug called MT-6548 (vadadustat) against a standard injected drug (darbepoetin alfa) for anemia in people with chronic kidney disease who are not on dialysis. The study enrolled 304 participants in Japan to see if the oral drug is at least as good at maintaining healthy hemoglobin levels and to check its long-term safety. The goal is to offer a more convenient pill option for managing anemia in this condition.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: vadadustat (MT-6548) oral tablet
What this could lead to: If successful, this could offer a convenient oral alternative to injected darbepoetin for managing anemia in chronic kidney disease patients not on dialysis.
What could go wrong: This is a confirmatory trial in Japan only, so results may not apply globally. Non-inferiority does not guarantee superiority, and long-term safety data are still limited.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

anemia anemia due to chronic disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

ANEMIA; NON-DIALYSIS DEPENDENT CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE

Contacts and locations

Locations

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Ibaraki, Japan
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Kagoshima, Japan
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Kanagawa, Japan
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Kochi, Japan
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Kumamoto, Japan
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Kyoto, Japan
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Miyagi, Japan
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Nagano, Japan
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Nagasaki, Japan
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Nara, Japan
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Niigata, Japan
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Okayama, Japan
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Okinawa, Japan
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Osaka, Japan
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Ōita, Japan
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Saga, Japan
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Saitama, Japan
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Shiga, Japan
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Shizuoka, Japan
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Tokyo, Japan
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Toyama, Japan
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Yamanashi, Japan
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Aichi, Japan
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Chiba, Japan
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Fukui, Japan
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Fukuoka, Japan
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Fukushima, Japan
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Gunma, Japan
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Hiroshima, Japan
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Hokkaido, Japan
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Hyōgo, Japan

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