Baxter (NYSE:BAX) said today it launched a Phase 3 clinical trial of an investigational drug combining a citrate anticoagulant and renal replacement solution.
The trial will explore whether the use of the citrate anticoagulant lengthens the extracorporeal circuit life in acute kidney patients undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy, the company said.
”One potential obstacle in delivering effective CRRT occurs when blood flow through the circuit is slowed or completely stopped by blood clots. Extending the life of the extracorporeal circuit can help patients with acute kidney injury remain on renal replacement therapy as prescribed, while reducing potential complications that can occur when the blood circuit needs to be replaced,” acute therapies medical director Dr. Farah Ali said in a press release.
The 1st patient in the trial has been enrolled, Baxter said, with the trial expected to pick up 160 patients and run through 2017.
If the anticoagulant-renal replacement solution is approved, it will provide a standardized formulation of renal replacement fluid combined with citrate anticoagulant, the company said.
Late last month, Baxter posted a classic beat-and-raise 2nd quarter, handily topping expectations on Wall Street, boosting its outlook for the rest of the year and sending its share price up in early trading.
The healthcare giant logged profits of $130 million, or 24¢ per share, on sales of $2.56 billion for the 3 months ended Sept. 30, for a dramatic 12,900% bottom-line gain on sales growth of 2.9% compared with Q3 2015.
Adjusted to exclude 1-time items, earnings per share were 56¢, a full 11¢ ahead of The Street, where analysts were looking for sales of $2.55 billion.
