Oral powder formulation of Fosrenal (Shire) approved in EU

The Swedish Medical Products Agency acting as reference member state through the European Decentralised Procedure has approved a new oral powder formulation of Fosrenal (lanthanum carbonate), from Shire. Submissions for national marketing authorisations of Fosrenol in oral powder form have been made to Sweden and the other 27 European markets. The oral powder formulation was developed to give patients more choice in how they take their phosphate binder. It is used in the control of Hyperphosphataemia in Chronic Renal Failure patients on haemodialysis or continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Fosrenal is also indicated in adult patients with Chronic Kidney Disease not on dialysis with serum phosphate levels greater than or equal to1.78 mmol/L in whom a low phosphate diet alone is insufficient to control serum phosphate levels.