Chen N, Hao C, Peng X, et al. - Via a phase 3 trial done at 29 sites in China on 154 patients with chronic kidney disease, experts intended to determine the efficiency and safety of roxadustat (an oral inhibitor of hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase that stimulates erythropoiesis and regulates iron metabolism) for the treatment of anemia in individuals with chronic kidney disease who were not undergoing dialysis. Patients were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive roxadustat or placebo three times a week for 8 weeks in a double-blind manner. Hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis was more often seen in the roxadustat group vs the placebo group. During the 18-week open-label period, the effectiveness of roxadustat in hemoglobin correction and maintenance was sustained. A higher mean hemoglobin level was noted in those in the roxadustat group in comparison with those in the placebo group following 8 weeks. Moreover, during the 18-week open-label phase of the trial, roxadustat had a correlation with persistent efficiency.