Society of Diabetic Nephropathy Prevention Journal of Nephropharmacology 2345-4202 15 1 2026 01 01 Administration of vadadustat for anemia of chronic kidney disease; an updated review e12806 e12806 10.34172/npj.2025.12806 EN Sajad Ataei Azimi https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4542-9647 Asaad Abass Fadhel Khalif Ahmadreza Siyasari https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6004-5652 Zahra Bazargani https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1943-5752 Peyman Khajehnabi https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6377-5342 Sara Ghaseminejad Kermani https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1730-8437 Kamran Safa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3630-5418 Shirin Shamsghahfarokhi https://orcid.org/0009-0001-8221-2941 Journal Article 10.34172/npj.2025.12806 2025 05 20 2025 08 05 Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health burden, often complicated by anemia due to impaired erythropoietin production and iron dysregulation. Vadadustat, an oral hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor (HIF-PHI), has emerged as a promising therapeutic option for managing anemia in CKD patients. By stabilizing hypoxia-inducible factors, vadadustat enhances endogenous erythropoietin production and improves iron metabolism, offering a novel approach to treating CKD-associated anemia. Recent clinical trials demonstrate that vadadustat effectively increases hemoglobin levels, reduces the need for erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), and improves patients’ quality of life. However, concerns regarding its safety, including potential risks of thromboembolic events and hypertension, warrant careful patient selection and monitoring. Comparative analyses with standard therapies, such as ESAs and other HIF-PH inhibitors, highlight vadadustat’s advantages in terms of oral administration and cost-effectiveness, while also identifying areas for further research.