| Katherine, a mother of two from the suburbs of | | | | The change worked for Katherine. Instead of the 12 |
| Orlando, Florida, was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes | | | | tablets she was taking per day on a previous |
| shortly after her 30th birthday. Two decades later, | | | | phosphate binder, Katherine now takes fewer than |
| her diabetes led to kidney failure. Unfortunately, this | | | | five tablets a day. |
| scenario is not uncommon, as diabetes is the leading | | | | The new medication has enabled Katherine to |
| cause of kidney failure in the United States, | | | | consistently maintain her phosphorus levels within the |
| accounting for nearly half of the people who begin | | | | recommended guidelines. Katherine's new binder also |
| treatment each year. | | | | is a chewable tablet, which she prefers, because like |
| When the kidneys stop working normally, it is called | | | | all dialysis patients, she needs to restrict the amount |
| chronic kidney disease (CKD). In Katherine's case, the | | | | of water she drinks each day. While Katherine has |
| disease advanced to its most severe form, CKD | | | | not experienced any side effects related to |
| Stage 5, which occurs when an individual has lost at | | | | FOSRENOL(R), her doctor did advise her that |
| least 85 percent of his or her kidney function and | | | | individuals taking the medication may experience |
| begins dialysis. Of the 20 million Americans who have | | | | nausea or vomiting, which generally lessen over time |
| some form of kidney disease, more than 530,000 are | | | | as patients continue with their treatment. |
| on dialysis. Dialysis performs tasks that healthy | | | | Thanks to dialysis, diet and her newly prescribed |
| kidneys do, such as remove wastes, control excess | | | | phosphate binder therapy, Katherine is successfully |
| salt and water balance, and maintain blood pressure. | | | | managing her health and staying active. On most |
| The overall management of kidney disease is | | | | days, she can be found in her swimming pool with |
| challenging and can lead to a variety of additional | | | | her children and grandchildren. |
| problems. In Katherine's case, she developed | | | | This patient account reflects one person's experience |
| hyperphosphatemia (hi-per-FOS-fuh-TE-me-uh)-high | | | | with hyperphosphatemia, CKD Stage 5 and her |
| levels of phosphorus in the blood-which can lead to | | | | treatment with FOSRENOL(R). This information is not |
| serious long-term health problems over time, such as | | | | intended as a substitute for medical advice. |
| mineral deposits in the heart and blood vessels, bone | | | | Note to Editors: Important Safety Information: During |
| disease and even death. | | | | clinical trials, the most common side effects of |
| Fortunately, there are treatments available to help | | | | FOSRENOL(R) were gastrointestinal, and included |
| patients control their kidney disease and limit the | | | | nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Nausea and vomiting |
| impact of hyperphosphatemia. Through a combination | | | | generally lessened over time as patients continued |
| of dialysis, diet and phosphate binder therapy, | | | | with their treatment. Patients who stopped |
| patients can manage their phosphorus levels. In | | | | treatment usually reported gastrointestinal side |
| addition to going to dialysis three times a week, | | | | effects as the reason for stopping. Other side |
| Katherine follows a diet that limits foods high in | | | | effects reported in trials included dialysis graft |
| phosphorus, such as dairy products and dark soda. | | | | complications, headache, abdominal pain, and low |
| But phosphorus is found in most foods, so patients | | | | blood pressure. Although studies were not designed |
| often cannot reach target blood phosphorus levels | | | | to detect differences in risk of bone fracture and |
| through dietary restriction and dialysis alone. Many | | | | mortality, there were no differences demonstrated in |
| patients, including Katherine, need to take phosphate | | | | patients treated with FOSRENOL(R) compared to |
| binders at meals and snacks to help further control | | | | alternative therapy for up to 3 years. The duration of |
| their phosphorus levels. Phosphate binders are | | | | treatment exposure and time of observation in the |
| prescription medications which "soak up" phosphorus | | | | clinical program were too short to conclude that |
| in the gastrointestinal tract before it can be absorbed | | | | FOSRENOL(R) does not affect the risk of bone |
| into the blood, thereby helping patients maintain | | | | fracture or mortality beyond 3 years. While lanthanum |
| target blood phosphorus levels. | | | | has been shown to accumulate in the GI tract, liver, |
| Because phosphate binders need to be taken with | | | | and bone in animals, the clinical significance in humans |
| each meal, finding an effective binder that fits each | | | | is unknown. If you suffer from acute stomach ulcer, |
| individual patient's needs can be challenging. In April | | | | colon inflammation and colon ulcers, Crohn's disease, |
| 2005, a member of Katherine's health care team | | | | or bowel obstruction, it is important to know that |
| recommended that she change her phosphate binder | | | | patients with these conditions were not included in |
| to FOSRENOL(R) because it could reduce the number | | | | FOSRENOL(R) clinical studies-please discuss with your |
| of tablets she had to take each day. | | | | doctor. |