Relypsa Inc. (RLYP) said that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Veltassa or patiromer for oral suspension, a new polymer medicine that binds potassium, for the treatment of hyperkalemia.
Approximately 3 million people in the United States with stage 3 or 4 CKD and/or heart failure have hyperkalemia, or elevated blood potassium levels. Hyperkalemia can cause abnormal heart rhythms and even sudden death. There are often no warning signs, meaning a person can unknowingly experience spikes in potassium levels recurrently and be at risk for these cardiac events.
Veltassa is expected to be available to patients in the United States by the first week of January 2016.
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