2025 spaxentan/sparsentan: drug introduction and market price

Sparsentan is an innovative drug specifically designed to treat adult primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy. Immunoglobulin A nephropathy is a serious kidney disease characterized by a progressive decline in kidney function that may eventually lead to the need for dialysis or a kidney transplant. Primary means that the cause of the disease is not yet fully understood. Sparsentane is particularly suitable for patients with a daily urine protein content of at least 1 gram or a urine protein to creatinine ratio (UPCR) of not less than 1.5 g/g.

Sparsentan's mechanism of action is that it blocks the receptors of two key hormones - endothelin and angiotensin. These two hormones play important roles in the kidney damage process. By inhibiting the activity of these receptors, spaxentan effectively reduces the amount of protein in the urine, an important sign of kidney damage, and helps slow the progression of kidney disease. This drug is a prescription drug, available in tablet form, and patients need to take it orally once daily. Common side effects that may occur with sparsentane include hypotension, hyperkalemia (high levels of potassium ions in the blood), dizziness, and peripheral edema (such as swelling of the arms and legs).

Currently, the original drug sparsentan has not yet been launched in the domestic market, so its pricing information is not yet clear. This drug has not been on the market for a long time overseas. The main specifications in the European market are 200 mg 30 tablets and 400 mg 30 tablets. The overall cost is relatively high. In addition, there are also generic drugs of sparsentan in overseas markets, and the ingredients of these generic drugs are similar to the original drugs. For example, the version produced by Lucius Pharmaceutical Factory in Laos has a main specification of 400mg*30 tablets, and its price is more affordable than the original drug.

Reference materials:https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/filspari