ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT03329196Updated Apr 6, 2026Results posted

Efficacy and Safety Study to Evaluate MT-6548 in Non-dialysis Subjects With Anemia Associated With Chronic Kidney Disease in Japan

A Phase 3 interventional study of MT-6548 and Darbepoetin alfa in Anemia; Non-dialysis Dependent Chronic Kidney Disease, sponsored by Tanabe Pharma Corporation. Completed at 31 sites in Japan. Open to participants aged 20 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-06.

Sponsored by Tanabe Pharma Corporation · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
304
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
20 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

For Non-dialysis subjects with anemia associated with chronic kidney disease, demonstrate non-inferiority of MT-6548 compared to darbepoetin alfa using Hb value and evaluate long-term safety of MT-6548.

For subjects not currently receiving ESAs, evaluate Hb correction and maintenance effect of MT-6548 and for subjects currently receiving ESAs, evaluate Hb conversion and maintenance effect of MT-6548

02

Conditions studied

  • Anemia; Non-dialysis Dependent Chronic Kidney Disease

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03

In context

Anemia

1,810 studies on the registry are indexed under Anemia; 215 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 304 is above the median of 117 across 1,336 interventional studies indexed under Anemia.

Browse Anemia studies →

Lead sponsor

Tanabe Pharma Corporation is the lead sponsor of 92 studies on the registry; 1 is open to participants now.

Of its 8 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 6 (75%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
20 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Diagnosis of CKD
  • \< 60 mL/min/1.73m\^2 during the screening period
  • Not receiving dialysis for 8 weeks prior to the screening period, and not expected to start dialysis during the treatment period
  • Correction group: Not being treated with ESAs for the recent 8 weeks prior to the screening period
  • Conversion group: Being treated with ESAs for the recent 8 weeks prior to the screening period
  • Mean of the two screening levels closest in time to the baseline visit. Correction group: ≥8.0 g/dL and \< 11.0 g/dL Conversion group: ≥9.0 g/dL and ≤12.5 g/dL
  • Fluctuation between the two Hb levels closest in time to the baseline visit during the screening period less than 1.5 g/dL
  • Serum ferritin ≥ 100 ng/mL, or TSAT ≥20% during the screening period
  • Folate and vitamin B12 ≥ lower limit of normal during the screening period

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Anemia due to a main cause other than CKD: sickle cell disease, myelodysplastic syndrome, bone marrow fibrosis, hematologic , hemolytic anemia, thalassemia, or pure red cell aplasia
  • Active bleeding or recent blood loss within 8 weeks prior to the screening period
  • RBC transfusion within 8 weeks prior to the screening period
  • Received testosterone enanthate or mepitiostane within 8 weeks prior to the screening period
  • , ALT, or total >2.5 x during the screening period
  • Uncontrolled hypertension (diastolic blood pressure >110 mm Hg or systolic blood pressure >180 mm Hg) during the screening period and Day 1
  • Ophthalmic examinations during the screening period correspond to either of the following criteria;

    • No available fundal findings
    • Findings indicating the presence of active fundal disease
  • Severe heart failure ( Class IV)
  • Cerebrovascular disorder or acute coronary syndrome (hospitalization due to unstable angina or myocardial infarction), requiring hospitalization due to urgent percutaneous intervention for coronary or heart failure within 12 weeks prior to the screening period
  • Current or history of malignancy. History of malignancy with no recurrence for the recent 5 years is not an exclusion criterion
  • New onset or recurrent event of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism within 12 weeks prior to the screening period
  • Current or history of hemosiderosis or hemochromatosis
  • History of prior organ transplantation or scheduled organ transplant, or prior transplantation of hematopoietic stem cell or bone marrow
  • Males and females of who are unwilling to use an acceptable method of during the designated period (Males: during the study and 90 days after the last dose, females: during study and 30 days after the last dose)
  • Females who are pregnant or breast feeding, or are predicted to be pregnant
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(9)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

GFR and eGFR (kidney filtering)

GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is how much blood the kidneys filter each minute. It is usually estimated from a blood test — eGFR, by formulas such as CKD-EPI or MDRD — and some studies ask for it to be measured directly instead. Usually given in mL/min/1.73 m².

Check the method, the units and the minimum the study states. A value of 90 or above is in the normal-or-high range, but kidney damage can show in other tests too.

Hemoglobin (Hb)

The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. A low level is anaemia, which can cause tiredness and breathlessness. Measured in g/dL or g/L (9 g/dL is 90 g/L).

Cancer (malignancy)

Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.

Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.

ALT and AST (liver enzymes)

Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.

Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.

Bilirubin

A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.

Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.

ULN (upper limit of normal)

The top of the normal range for a blood test, as set by the laboratory that runs it. Each lab prints its own range next to your result.

“≤ 2.5 × ULN” means the result can be up to two and a half times that top value.

NYHA class (heart failure)

The New York Heart Association’s four classes of how much heart failure limits physical activity.

I
No limits: ordinary activity causes no undue tiredness or breathlessness.
II
Slight limits: comfortable at rest, ordinary activity causes symptoms.
III
Marked limits: comfortable at rest, less than ordinary activity causes symptoms.
IV
Symptoms even at rest; any activity makes them worse.

Studies set their own limit — many outside heart failure leave out class III–IV, while heart failure studies may ask for a particular class. Check the class this study names.

Childbearing potential

Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).

Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.

Contraception

Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.

Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
304 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    MT-6548

    Drug: MT-6548

  • Active comparator
    Darbepoetin alfa

    Drug: Darbepoetin alfa

Interventions

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Mean Hb Level of Week 20 and Week 24

    Time frame: Up to Week 24

Secondary outcomes

  1. Mean Hb Level of Week 48 and Week 52

    Time frame: Up to Week 52

  2. Hb Level at Each Assessment Time Point

    Time frame: Up to Week 52

  3. Percentage of Subjects With Hb Level at Each Assessment Time Point Within the Target Range During the Treatment Period

    Time frame: Up to Week 52

  4. Time to Reach the Target Hb Range in Correction Group Only

    Time frame: Up to Week 52

  5. Rate of Increase in Hb Level in Correction Group Only

    Time frame: Up to Week 6

07

Results

Posted Apr 12, 2021

Participant flow

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneMT-6548Darbepoetin Alfa
Started151153
Completed111123
Not completed4030
Withdrew: Adverse event105
Withdrew: Physician decision22
Withdrew: Withdrawal by subject113
Withdrew: Hepatic function abnormalities01
Withdrew: Conducting rescue therapy before week 2421
Withdrew: Difficult to control hb23
Withdrew: Dialysis or renal transplant1315

Outcome measures

PrimaryMean Hb Level of Week 20 and Week 24
Time frame:
Up to Week 24
Reported as:
Least squares mean · g/dL
Mean Hb Level of Week 20 and Week 24
g/dLMT-6548Darbepoetin Alfa
Mean Hb Level of Week 20 and Week 2411.66 (11.49 to 11.84)11.93 (11.76 to 12.10)
SecondaryMean Hb Level of Week 48 and Week 52
Time frame:
Up to Week 52
Reported as:
Least squares mean · g/dL
Mean Hb Level of Week 48 and Week 52
g/dLMT-6548Darbepoetin Alfa
Mean Hb Level of Week 48 and Week 5211.54 (11.38 to 11.69)11.63 (11.48 to 11.77)
SecondaryHb Level at Each Assessment Time Point
Time frame:
Up to Week 52
Reported as:
Mean · g/dL
Hb Level at Each Assessment Time Point
g/dLMT-6548Darbepoetin Alfa
Baseline10.44 (10.29 to 10.59)10.52 (10.38 to 10.66)
Week 210.64 (10.48 to 10.80)10.75 (10.62 to 10.89)
Week 410.71 (10.54 to 10.89)10.90 (10.76 to 11.05)
Week 610.87 (10.69 to 11.04)11.23 (11.08 to 11.38)
Week 811.13 (10.96 to 11.30)11.42 (11.26 to 11.59)
Week 1011.33 (11.17 to 11.49)11.70 (11.54 to 11.85)
Week 1211.50 (11.34 to 11.67)11.88 (11.72 to 12.04)
Week 1611.56 (11.39 to 11.74)12.00 (11.84 to 12.16)
Week 2011.66 (11.47 to 11.84)11.92 (11.77 to 12.06)
Week 2411.68 (11.49 to 11.87)11.94 (11.80 to 12.08)
Week 2811.72 (11.56 to 11.88)11.89 (11.74 to 12.03)
Week 3211.74 (11.57 to 11.91)11.79 (11.66 to 11.92)
Week 3611.74 (11.58 to 11.91)11.99 (11.84 to 12.15)
Week 4011.61 (11.46 to 11.76)11.78 (11.66 to 11.91)
Week 4411.50 (11.35 to 11.66)11.68 (11.56 to 11.80)
Week 4811.68 (11.52 to 11.84)11.73 (11.59 to 11.87)
Week 5211.62 (11.47 to 11.77)11.64 (11.52 to 11.76)
Week 52 (LOCF)11.29 (11.11 to 11.47)11.50 (11.34 to 11.65)
SecondaryPercentage of Subjects With Hb Level at Each Assessment Time Point Within the Target Range During the Treatment Period
Time frame:
Up to Week 52
Reported as:
Number · percentage of subjects
Percentage of Subjects With Hb Level at Each Assessment Time Point Within the Target Range During the Treatment Period
percentage of subjectsMT-6548Darbepoetin Alfa
Baseline31.132.7
Week 236.437.9
Week 446.353.3
Week 645.363.8
Week 857.965.6
Week 1059.368.0
Week 1268.367.6
Week 1668.571.6
Week 2065.573.6
Week 2468.277.9
Week 2877.676.6
Week 3275.078.8
Week 3677.377.5
Week 4076.387.4
Week 4471.985.5
Week 4874.579.8
Week 5275.280.3
SecondaryTime to Reach the Target Hb Range in Correction Group Only
Time frame:
Up to Week 52
Reported as:
Median · days
Time to Reach the Target Hb Range in Correction Group Only
daysMT-6548Darbepoetin Alfa
Time to Reach the Target Hb Range in Correction Group Only43.0 (12 to 361)29.0 (14 to 225)
SecondaryRate of Increase in Hb Level in Correction Group Only
Time frame:
Up to Week 6
Reported as:
Mean · g/dL/week
Rate of Increase in Hb Level in Correction Group Only
g/dL/weekMT-6548Darbepoetin Alfa
Calculated based on Hb at baseline and Week 40.14 (0.09 to 0.19)0.21 (0.17 to 0.24)
Calculated based on Hb up to Week60.13 (0.09 to 0.17)0.21 (0.18 to 0.25)

Adverse events

Collected over 52 weeks. Non-serious events are listed at a 5% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
MT-65480/151 (0%)42/151 (27.8%)85/151 (56.3%)
Darbepoetin Alfa1/153 (0.7%)49/153 (32%)80/153 (52.3%)
Most frequent serious events
Showing 10 of 70
Most frequent serious events
EventMT-6548Darbepoetin Alfa
Chronic kidney diseaseRenal and urinary disorders7/15111/153
Renal impairmentRenal and urinary disorders6/1516/153
CataractEye disorders3/1510/153
End stage renal diseaseRenal and urinary disorders3/1511/153
PneumoniaInfections and infestations2/1513/153
Cardiac failure congestiveCardiac disorders2/1510/153
Spinal compression fractureInjury, poisoning and procedural complications2/1510/153
Renal failureRenal and urinary disorders2/1511/153
Cardiac failure acuteCardiac disorders0/1512/153
Inguinal herniaGastrointestinal disorders0/1512/153
Most frequent other events
Showing 10 of 12
Most frequent other events
EventMT-6548Darbepoetin Alfa
NasopharyngitisInfections and infestations37/15143/153
DiarrhoeaGastrointestinal disorders18/1518/153
ConstipationGastrointestinal disorders14/15111/153
Oedema peripheralGeneral disorders11/1515/153
ContusionInjury, poisoning and procedural complications11/1517/153
HypertensionVascular disorders2/15111/153
VomitingGastrointestinal disorders10/1513/153
CystitisInfections and infestations6/1519/153
PyrexiaGeneral disorders8/1511/153
Chronic kidney diseaseRenal and urinary disorders5/1518/153

Baseline characteristics

Age, Categorical
Age, Categorical(Participants)MT-6548Darbepoetin AlfaTotal
<=18 years000
Between 18 and 65 years332861
>=65 years118125243
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)MT-6548Darbepoetin AlfaTotal
Female7680156
Male7573148
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race/Ethnicity, Customized(Participants)MT-6548Darbepoetin AlfaTotal
Asian (Japanese)151153304
Asian (Other)000
Other000
08

Study locations

31 sites
  • Research site
    Aichi, Japan
  • Research site
    Chiba, Japan
  • Research site
    Fukui, Japan
  • Research site
    Fukuoka, Japan
  • Research site
    Fukushima, Japan
  • Research site
    Gunma, Japan
  • Research site
    Hiroshima, Japan
  • Research site
    Hokkaido, Japan
  • Research site
    Hyōgo, Japan
  • Research site
    Ibaraki, Japan
  • Research site
    Kagoshima, Japan
  • Research site
    Kanagawa, Japan
  • Research site
    Kochi, Japan
  • Research site
    Kumamoto, Japan
  • Research site
    Kyoto, Japan
  • Research site
    Miyagi, Japan
  • Research site
    Nagano, Japan
  • Research site
    Nagasaki, Japan
  • Research site
    Nara, Japan
  • Research site
    Niigata, Japan
  • Research site
    Okayama, Japan
  • Research site
    Okinawa, Japan
  • Research site
    Osaka, Japan
  • Research site
    Ōita, Japan
  • Research site
    Saga, Japan
  • Research site
    Saitama, Japan
  • Research site
    Shiga, Japan
  • Research site
    Shizuoka, Japan
  • Research site
    Tokyo, Japan
  • Research site
    Toyama, Japan
  • Research site
    Yamanashi, Japan
09

References and documents

Publications

  • Nangaku M, Kondo K, Kokado Y, Ueta K, Kaneko G, Tandai T, Kawaguchi Y, Komatsu Y. Phase 3 Randomized Study Comparing Vadadustat with Darbepoetin Alfa for Anemia in Japanese Patients with Nondialysis-Dependent CKD. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2021 Jul;32(7):1779-1790. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2020091311. Epub 2021 Apr 21. PubMed 33883252 ↗
  • Nangaku M, Ueta K, Nishimura K, Sasaki K, Hashimoto T. Factors affecting responsiveness of vadadustat in patients with anemia associated with chronic kidney disease: a post-hoc subgroup analysis of Japanese phase 3 randomized studies. Clin Exp Nephrol. 2024 May;28(5):391-403. doi: 10.1007/s10157-023-02432-z. Epub 2024 Mar 26. PubMed 38530490 ↗
  • Natale P, Palmer SC, Jaure A, Hodson EM, Ruospo M, Cooper TE, Hahn D, Saglimbene VM, Craig JC, Strippoli GF. Hypoxia-inducible factor stabilisers for the anaemia of chronic kidney disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022 Aug 25;8(8):CD013751. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD013751.pub2. PubMed 36005278 ↗

Study documents

PDFs hosted by the registry, ClinicalTrials.gov.

10

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Apr 6, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
11

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03329196
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Nov 1, 2017
Start date
Oct 30, 2017
Primary completion
Jan 8, 2019
Completion
Aug 9, 2019
Results posted
Apr 12, 2021
Last update
Apr 6, 2026

Study contacts

General Manager
study director · Tanabe Pharma Corporation

Oversight

FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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Studies of the drug tested here: Vadadustat

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