Hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors (HIF-PHIs) are a novel class of oral medications developed for the treatment of anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD).

[1] By stabilizing HIF, these inhibitors mimic the body's natural response to hypoxia, leading to increased endogenous erythropoietin production and improved iron metabolism.

[2] HIF-PHIs have shown efficacy in correcting and maintaining hemoglobin levels in both dialysis-dependent and non-dialysis-dependent CKD patients, offering an alternative to traditional erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs).

[3][4] While these drugs have demonstrated promising results in clinical trials, ongoing research is focused on evaluating their long-term safety profile, particularly regarding cardiovascular outcomes, thromboembolic events, and potential effects on tumor growth.

[1][4][2] Outside of chronic kidney disease, Akebia Therapeutics has reported preliminary findings from its phase II study on Vadadustat for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in COVID-19 patients.