Resources

Resources

Document

First-line use of Velphoro

Medaura JA, Zhou M, Ficociello LH, et al. Am J Nephrol. 2024;55(2):127-135.

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Document

1-year follow-up on a contemporary cohort 

Kendrick JB, Zhou M, Ficociello LH, et al . Int J Nephrol Renovasc Dis. 2022;15:139-149

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Document

2-year comparative analysis
Coyne DW, Ficociello LH, Parameswaran V, et al. Kidney Med. 2020;2(3):307-316.

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Document

6-month analysis

Coyne DW, Ficociello LH, Parameswaran V, et al. Clin Nephrol. 2017;88(2):59-67.

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Document

1-year historical analysis in maintenance hemodialysis

Kendrick J, Parameswaran V, Ficociello LH, et al.
J Ren Nutr. 2019;29(5):428-437.

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Document

Analysis from a different LDO

Gray K, Ficociello LH, Hunt AE, Mullon C, Brunelli SM. Int J Nephrol Renovasc Dis. 2019;12:1-8.

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Doxument

6-month analysis in patients on peritoneal dialysis
Kalantar-Zadeh K, Parameswaran V, Ficociello L, et al. Am J Nephrol. 2018;47(3):153-161.

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Document

Largest registrational phosphate binder study

Floege J, Covic AC, Ketteler M, et al. Kidney Int. 2014;86(3):638-647.

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Document

28-week extension study

Floege J, Covic AC, Ketteler M, et al. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2015;30(6):1037-1046.

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Velphoro Patient Brochure

Velphoro Patient Brochure

An easy-to-read, patient-friendly presentation of the Velphoro story.

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Velphoro Patient Quick Start Guide

Velphoro Fact Sheet

Essential dosing information for patients starting on Velphoro.

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Velphoro Points Program

Phosphorus Food Guide

A handy list of foods to choose, and those to avoid. 

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Get the Patient Tear Sheet

Patient Tear Sheet

The basics of phosphate and how to control it for patients new to phosphate binders.

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Frequently asked questions

Velphoro is available through commercial and Medicare Part D pharmacy benefit plans. Most patients pay about $11 or less for Velphoro.1,2 Most commercially insured patients pay $0 automatically through the Velphoro Copay Savings Program.2  Velphoro Access Solutions offers additional programs that can help patients pay for their Velphoro.

Velphoro has no interaction with commonly prescribed oral drugs, including oral calcitriol. Velphoro can be administered with levothyroxine, as long as the doses are separated by 4 hours. Take acetylsalicylic acid, cephalexin, and doxycycline at least 1 hour before Velphoro. For medications where a reduction in bioavailability would have significant effect, consider separating the administration of the two drugs, taking into account absorption characteristics of the second medication.3

There are no contraindications for Velphoro.3

Velphoro is the most potent phosphate binder per tablet.4 Use of Velphoro has been shown to reduce the phosphate-binder pill burden for patients on dialysis by half, while doubling the percentage of patients who achieve serum phosphorus levels of ≤5.5 mg/dL.5,6

Velphoro is a berry-flavored chewable tablet, not intended to be swallowed whole. Velphoro can also be broken or crushed. The initial starting dose for Velphoro is one 500-mg tablet, 3 times a day, with meals. Monitor serum phosphorus levels and titrate the dose of Velphoro by 1 tablet per day (not per meal), as often as weekly.3 

Velphoro must be administered with meals. If a dose is missed, resume Velphoro with the next meal.3

In vitro studies have shown that up to 96% of available phosphate is bound by Velphoro, then eliminated in the feces. Reduction in serum phosphorus and calcium-phosphorus product levels results from reduced dietary phosphate absorption.3

Adverse events with Velphoro are usually mild and transient, and similar to those of sevelamer, as seen in a 55-week, open-label, active-controlled, parallel-design safety and efficacy study of 968 hemodialysis patients, and 86 peritoneal dialysis patients. Adverse reactions in >5% of patients taking Velphoro included diarrhea (24%), discolored feces (16%), and nausea (10%). The majority of cases of diarrhea were mild, generally occurred early in treatment, and resolved with continued use. Additional reported reactions include tooth discoloration and rash.3

Velphoro® (sucroferric oxyhydroxide) is a phosphate binder indicated for the control of serum phosphorus levels in adult and pediatric patients 9 years of age and older with chronic kidney disease on dialysis.3

Resources for the Clinical Care Team

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References: 1. Medicare.gov. Help with drug costs. https://www.medicare.gov/basics/costs/help/drug-costs. Accessed November 8, 2023. 2. Data on file. Fresenius Medical Care North America, Waltham, MA. 3. Velphoro® [package insert]. Waltham, MA: Fresenius Medical Care North America; 2024. 4. Coyne DW, Larson DS, Delmez JA. Bone disease. In: Daugirdas JT, Blake PG, Ing TS, eds. Handbook of Dialysis. 5th ed, Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2015:665-692. 5. Coyne DW, Ficociello LH, Parameswaran V, et al. Real-world effectiveness of sucroferric oxyhydroxide in patients on chronic hemodialysis: a retrospective analysis of pharmacy data. Clin Nephrol. 2017;88(2):59-67. 6. Kendrick J, Parameswaran V, Ficociello LH, et al. One-year historical cohort study of the phosphate binder sucroferric oxyhydroxide in patients on maintenance hemodialysis. J Ren Nutr. 2019;29(5):428-437.

INDICATION

Velphoro® (sucroferric oxyhydroxide) is a phosphate binder indicated for the control of serum phosphorus levels in adult and pediatric patients 9 years of age and older with chronic kidney disease on dialysis.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

  • Velphoro chewable tablets must be administered with meals. Velphoro should be chewed or crushed. Do not swallow whole.
  • Patients with peritonitis during peritoneal dialysis, significant gastric or hepatic disorders, following major gastrointestinal (GI) surgery, or with a history of hemochromatosis or other diseases with iron accumulation have not been included in clinical studies with Velphoro. Monitor effect and iron homeostasis in such patients.
  • In a parallel design, fixed-dose study of 6 weeks duration, the most common adverse drug reactions to Velphoro chewable tablets in hemodialysis patients included discolored feces (12%) and diarrhea (6%).
  • Velphoro can be administered concomitantly with oral calcitriol, ciprofloxacin, digoxin, enalapril, furosemide, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, hydrochlorothiazide, losartan, metoprolol, nifedipine, omeprazole, quinidine and warfarin. For oral medications where a reduction of bioavailability would be clinically significant consider separating of the timing of administration. Consider monitoring clinical responses or blood levels of the concomitant medications.

Velphoro is available by prescription only. For additional Safety Information, please see full Prescribing Information.

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Fresenius Medical Care Customer Service at 1-800-323-5188 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

This information is intended for use by US healthcare professionals only.

Distributed by:
Fresenius Medical Care North America
Waltham, MA 02451

Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharmaceuticals

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