A Majority of Surveyed Nephrologists Report the Need for Earlier Diagnosis and Lack of Treatments as the Main Challenges in the Management of AKI

BURLINGTON, Mass., March 31, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources Group finds that, according to both surveyed nephrologists and critical care physicians, there is a high perceived need for new therapies for the treatment of acute kidney injury (AKI). However, opinions vary among physician types when it comes to the need for improvement of products that are used to treat AKI, as nephrologists believe that the most significant need is for products that better treat established AKI and critical care physicians believe the greatest unmet need is for products to aid in the prevention of AKI.

Other key findings from the report entitled TreatmentTrends: Acute Kidney Injury (US) 2014:

• Causes of AKI: According to both physician groups, patients with AKI due to sepsis, followed by patients with AKI due to cardiac surgery are considered to be the patient populations with the highest level of unmet need for new agents that prevent and treat AKI, respectively.
• AKI diagnosis: Opinions differ among physician types regarding the diagnosis of AKI—in general, surveyed critical care physicians tend to wait longer to diagnose AKI based on lab parameters such as absolute increase in serum creatinine and percentage decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR).
• AKI treatment guidelines: Based on mean ratings, both physician groups are moderately familiar with the new Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) AKI treatment guidelines. However, more surveyed nephrologists than surveyed critical care physicians would consider themselves more familiar with these guidelines.
• Nephrology consults: Surveyed critical care physicians report consulting nephrologists in over half of AKI cases and in a majority of the cases, critical care physicians report that they themselves make the diagnosis of AKI.
• Dopamine and fenoldopam: Using a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being extremely effective, surveyed nephrologists rated both dopamine and fenoldopam low with rating of 2.8 and 2.7, respectively when asked how effective they were in treating/preventing AKI.
• ABT-719/ZP-1480, AC-607 and alkaline phosphatase: Surveyed physicians reported moderate interest after reviewing the product profiles in clinical development for AbbVie/Zealand Pharma's ABT-719/ZP-1480, AlloCure's AC-607 and AM-Pharma's alkaline phosphatase. The report also discusses percentage of patients who are likely candidates for these therapies, after reviewing product profiles.

Comments from Decision Resources Group Analyst Jihan Khan, Ph.D.:

• "AKI is a very complex indication which is extremely difficult to treat. The disease is common and poses potentially catastrophic complications, including mortality."

• "While there are currently no products indicated to treat AKI, the pipeline is growing with many new agents in clinical development that may be able to address this complex patient population."

About Decision Resources Group
Decision Resources Group offers best-in-class, high-value information and insights on critical issues within the healthcare industry. Clients rely on this analysis and data to make informed decisions. Find out more at www.DecisionResourcesGroup.com.

All company, brand, or product names contained in this document may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

For more information, contact:

Decision Resources Group
Christopher Comfort
781-993-2597
[email protected]

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130103/MM36768LOGO

SOURCE Decision Resources Group