{"title":"Efficacy and safety of anrikefon in patients with pruritus undergoing haemodialysis: multicentre, double blind, randomised placebo controlled phase 3 trial.","authors":"Bi-Cheng Liu, Zuo-Lin Li, Ping Zhang, Ai-Min Zhong, Ya-Ling Bai, Yan Xu, Bi-Hu Gao, Yan-Lin Li, Yu Wang, Ling-Hui Zhou, Li Yao, Jun-Xia Wang, Rui Yan, Liang Wang, Bing Liao, De-Qiong Xie, Xiang-Ming Yi, Tian-Jun Guan, Cai-Li Wang, Gui-Sen Li, Fang-Qiong Li, Jiang-Hua Chen","doi":"10.1136/bmj-2025-085208","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bmj-2025-085208","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To evaluate the efficacy and safety of anrikefon (formerly known as HSK21542), a novel selective peripherally restricted kappa opioid receptor agonist, in patients with chronic kidney disease associated pruritus.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Multicentre, double blind, randomised placebo controlled phase 3 trial.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>50 centres in China, June 2022 to June 2024.</p><p><strong>Participants: </strong>652 patients with moderate to severe CKD associated pruritus undergoing haemodialysis were screened: 545 were randomly assigned (1:1 ratio) to receive either anrikefon (n=275) or placebo (n=270).</p><p><strong>Interventions: </strong>Intravenous anrikefon (0.3 μg/kg body weight) or placebo three times weekly for 12 weeks, followed by an optional open label extension phase with anrikefon treatment for 40 weeks.</p><p><strong>Main outcome measures: </strong>The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients achieving at least a 4 point reduction in weekly mean 24 hour worst itching intensity numerical rating scale (WI-NRS) score from baseline to week 12. Secondary outcomes were the percentage of patients achieving at least a 3 point reduction in weekly mean WI-NRS score from baseline to week 12, as well as changes in itch related quality of life from baseline using the Skindex-10 and 5-D itch scales. The change in itch related quality of life from baseline to week 40 of open label treatment was also reported using the 5-D itch scale. The safety of anrikefon was evaluated throughout the trial.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>243/275 (88%) patients in the anrikefon group and 254/270 (94%) in the placebo group completed the 12 week double blind treatment. 443 subsequently entered the 40 week open label extension phase. 37% of patients in the anrikefon group showed at least a 4 point reduction in WI-NRS score at week 12 compared with 15% in the placebo group (P<0.001). The percentage of patients with at least a 3 point reduction in WI-NRS score from baseline to week 12 was 51% in the anrikefon group compared with 24% in the placebo group (P<0.001). The anrikefon group showed significant improvements in itch related quality of life (mean change from baseline in 5-D itch scale -5.3 <i>v</i> -3.1, P<0.001 and in Skindex-10 scale -15.2 <i>v</i> -9.3, P<0.001). Anrikefon also showed sustained long term efficacy during the open label extension phase at week 40, with persistent improvement in quality of life scores on the 5-D itch scale. Mild to moderate dizziness was more common in the anrikefon group than placebo group but without evident clinical consequences.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In patients with moderate to severe pruritus undergoing haemodialysis, anrikefon was found to be safe and resulted in a noticeable reduction in itch intensity and an improvement in itch related quality of life.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05135390.</p>","PeriodicalId":9201,"journal":{"name":"BMJ : British Medical Journal","volume":"390 ","pages":"e085208"},"PeriodicalIF":42.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12362199/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144882193","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Anrikefon for itching related to chronic kidney disease.","authors":"Hugh Rayner, Venessa van Wyk","doi":"10.1136/bmj.r1770","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bmj.r1770","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9201,"journal":{"name":"BMJ : British Medical Journal","volume":"390 ","pages":"r1770"},"PeriodicalIF":42.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144882189","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Conflicts of interest were at record low when RFK Jr dismissed \"conflicted\" vaccine panel.","authors":"Adrian O'Dowd","doi":"10.1136/bmj.r1774","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bmj.r1774","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9201,"journal":{"name":"BMJ : British Medical Journal","volume":"390 ","pages":"r1774"},"PeriodicalIF":42.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144882190","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"WHO pandemic agreement.","authors":"Alice Norton, Samantha Vanderslott, Peter Horby","doi":"10.1136/bmj.r1742","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bmj.r1742","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9201,"journal":{"name":"BMJ : British Medical Journal","volume":"390 ","pages":"r1742"},"PeriodicalIF":42.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144882195","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cosmetic surgery: Government launches TikTok campaign to highlight harms of overseas procedures.","authors":"Adrian O'Dowd","doi":"10.1136/bmj.r1772","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bmj.r1772","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9201,"journal":{"name":"BMJ : British Medical Journal","volume":"390 ","pages":"r1772"},"PeriodicalIF":42.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144882191","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Helen Salisbury: Blended learning will produce GPs with less experience.","authors":"Helen Salisbury","doi":"10.1136/bmj.r1617","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bmj.r1617","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9201,"journal":{"name":"BMJ : British Medical Journal","volume":"390 ","pages":"r1617"},"PeriodicalIF":42.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144882194","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Why scientists are rethinking the immune effects of SARS-CoV-2.","authors":"Nick Tsergas","doi":"10.1136/bmj.r1733","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bmj.r1733","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9201,"journal":{"name":"BMJ : British Medical Journal","volume":"390 ","pages":"r1733"},"PeriodicalIF":42.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144882196","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Claire Ann Jones, Akanksha Kulshreshtha, Karen Born, Parul Katiyar
{"title":"Initial assessment of infertility in primary care.","authors":"Claire Ann Jones, Akanksha Kulshreshtha, Karen Born, Parul Katiyar","doi":"10.1136/bmj-2024-079609","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bmj-2024-079609","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9201,"journal":{"name":"BMJ : British Medical Journal","volume":"390 ","pages":"e079609"},"PeriodicalIF":42.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144871548","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Tackling health inequalities in dementia is a public health priority.","authors":"Timothy P Daly, Andreia Fonseca de Paiva","doi":"10.1136/bmj.r1738","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bmj.r1738","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9201,"journal":{"name":"BMJ : British Medical Journal","volume":"390 ","pages":"r1738"},"PeriodicalIF":42.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144871553","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Intermittent fasting strategies and their effects on body weight and other cardiometabolic risk factors: systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials.","authors":"","doi":"10.1136/bmj.r1737","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bmj.r1737","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9201,"journal":{"name":"BMJ : British Medical Journal","volume":"390 ","pages":"r1737"},"PeriodicalIF":42.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12359177/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144871549","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}