Effectivity and safety profile of tenapanor, a sodium-hydrogen exchanger isoform 3 inhibitor, as an innovative treatment for hyperphosphatemia in chronic kidney disease: A systematic review of clinical studies

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major global health problem. Hyperphosphatemia is frequent in CKD and a reason for increased morbidity and mortality as it generates hyperparathyroidism, high fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), and hypocalcemia. Available hyperphosphatemia therapies still have limitations, including risk of metal overload, cardiovascular calcification, and systemic adverse effects (AEs). Tenapanor is a new hyperphosphatemia treatment in CKD with sodium-hydrogen exchanger isoform 3 (NHE3) inhibition mechanism and low systemic AEs.

Objectives: Discovering the effectivity and safety of tenapanor as hyperphosphatemia management in CKD.

Method: Literature searching is performed by using "pubmed" and "science direct" with "tenapanor", "chronic kidney disease", and "hyperphosphatemia" as keywords. The literatures were selected using PRISMA algorithm version 2020. Literature was screened based on Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome (PICO) criteria which are: CKD patients requiring dialysis as population, tenapanor or its combination with dialysis or phosphate binders as intervention, placebo or other phosphate binders without tenapanor as comparison, and serum phosphate, safety profile, and other pleiotropic benefits related to hyperphosphatemia management as the outcome. The included studies then assessed for risk of bias and qualitatively reviewed.

Outcome: Tenapanor was able to reduce serum phosphate, generally in a dose-dependent manner. Tenapanor also suppressed FGF23 and parathyroid hormone, probably due to decreased serum phosphate. The frequent AEs were transient mild-to-moderate diarrhea in a dose-dependent manner. Tenapanor was generally well-tolerated with low systemic AEs due to its non-calcium, metal-free, and low-absorbed properties.

Conclusion: Tenapanor is an effective and safe option for hyperphosphatemia management in CKD.