Efficacy of Difelikefalin for the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Pruritus in Hemodialysis Patients: Pooled Analysis of KALM-1 and KALM-2 Phase 3 Studies.
Abstract
Rationale & Objective: Chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus (CKD-aP) in patients treated by hemodialysis (HD) impairs quality of life (QoL). Difelikefalin, a selective κ-opioid receptor agonist, decreased the intensity of CKD-aP in patients undergoing HD. This pooled analysis evaluated difelikefalin's efficacy and the itch-related QoL overall and in subgroups defined by demographics or disease characteristics.
Study Design: In KALM-1 and KALM-2, participants were randomized (1:1) to receive intravenous difelikefalin or placebo 3 times/wk for 12 weeks, followed by a 52-week open-label extension.
Setting & Participants: Adults with moderate to severe CKD-aP treated by HD in North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region.
Intervention: Intravenous difelikefalin at 0.5 mcg/kg or placebo.
Outcomes: Itch intensity (Worst Itching Intensity Numerical Rating Scale [WI-NRS]) and itch-related QoL (Skindex-10 and 5-D Itch questionnaires).
Results: 851 participants were randomized (difelikefalin, n = 426; placebo, n = 425). This pooled analysis demonstrated early (week 1), sustained difelikefalin efficacy, with significantly greater achievement of ≥3-point WI-NRS reduction with difelikefalin (51.1%) versus placebo (35.2%;
Limitations: Subgroup samples were small. The WI-NRS, Skindex-10, and 5-D Itch are not used in routine clinical care of dialysis patients; therefore, findings may not reflect the real-world effectiveness of difelikefalin.
Conclusions: Difelikefalin demonstrated rapid, sustained efficacy, with consistent results in diverse populations of patients treated by HD.
Funding: Cara Therapeutics, Inc.
Trial Registration: The KALM-1 trial is registered as NCT03422653 and the KALM-2 trial is registered as NCT03636269.