Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd., of Chertsey, UK, part of Astellas Pharma Inc., reported that the first European patients have been enrolled into the global ALPINE program being conducted in collaboration with Fibrogen Inc., of San Francisco, to investigate the safety and efficacy of roxadustat (also known as ASP1517/FG-4592), a potential new oral treatment for anemia in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). In Europe, Astellas will conduct three phase III studies: ALPS, DOLOMITES and PYRENEES, encompassing both nondialysis and dialysis patients. Approximately 1,800 patients will be enrolled in Europe, and the studies will compare roxadustat to both current treatment and placebo. Roxadustat is not currently licensed for use in any country.

Astrazeneca plc, of London, (AZN) said patient enrollment was completed approximately four months ahead of plan in the phase III trial EUCLID studying Brilinta (ticagrelor) tablets. Part of PARTHENON, Astrazeneca’s largest clinical trial program, EUCLID has randomized more than 13,500 patients globally with peripheral artery disease (PAD); approximately 20 percent are patients in the U.S. from more than 300 active clinical trial sites across the country. EUCLID is designed to evaluate the effects of ticagrelor (monotherapy) compared to clopidogrel (monotherapy) on cardiovascular events and safety in PAD patients. Ticagrelor is currently not approved for the treatment of patients with PAD.