US approves new anaemia drug

US authorities have approved Omontys (peginesatide) injections for treating anaemia in dialysis patients with chronic kidney disease. They say that this peginesatide is the first new drug in this area to be approved in the US since 2001. Peginesatide is an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent: it encourages the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells so that fewer transfusions are needed. Peginesatide was developed by US drug company Affymax.