Patients with chronic kidney disease and hyperphosphataemia can now be treated with Fosrenol (lanthanum carbonate) even if they have not yet started dialysis.
Alongside Alu-Cap (aluminium hydroxide) and Phosex (calcium acetate), Fosrenol is the third phosphate binder to be licensed for predialysis use.
The drug, which comes as chewable tablets, can be used in this setting when a low-phosphate diet fails to reduce serum phosphate levels below 1.78mmol/l. As lanthanum is mainly excreted in bile, monitoring of liver function is recommended.
Further information: Shire
