Anrikefen vs Nalfurafine for sleep quality in kidney disease patients with itching
Official title: An Exploratory Study Comparing Anrikefon With Nalfurafine in Improving Sleep Quality Among CKD-aP Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: An Open-Label Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Run by Zhujiang Hospital · NCT07380113 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A randomized, open-label study tests whether the injectable Anrikefen improves sleep better than the oral nalfurafine in adults on hemodialysis with CKD-associated itching.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 4 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 18 Years to 75 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 50 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Zhujiang Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Guangzhou, Guangdong) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 22, 2026 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2027 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | August 25, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07380113 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults (18–75 years) on regular hemodialysis with CKD-associated pruritus and WI-NRS ≥ 4 who can provide informed consent.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients not experiencing a meaningful sleep improvement or those who do not respond to either treatment may not benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This Phase 4 trial compares an injectable drug, Anrikefen, with an oral tablet of nalfurafine in adults undergoing regular hemodialysis and experiencing CKD-associated pruritus. Participants are randomized to receive Anrikefen 0.3 μg/kg three times weekly or nalfurafine 2.5 μg daily for 4 weeks, with sleep quality measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and several secondary outcomes. The study monitors safety, quality of life, itch intensity, pain thresholds, and patient-reported change, alongside vital signs and lab parameters. It is conducted at Zhujiang Hospital in Guangzhou, China, with an open-label design. The trial aims to determine if Anrikefen offers superior sleep benefits and quality of life improvements compared with nalfurafine.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience better sleep and overall quality of life due to improved management of CKD-associated pruritus.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies with κ-opioid receptor agonists have shown promising itch control and sleep benefits, but this direct head-to-head comparison is novel in this population.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Be able to understand the procedures and methods of this trial, be willing to strictly follow the clinical research protocol to complete this trial, and voluntarily sign the informed consent form.
2. Male or female individuals aged 18 or above and 75 or above.
3. Patients with end-stage renal disease received regular hemodialysis three times a week before the screening period (whether they met the requirements for regular dialysis was determined based on the opinions of the researchers).
4. Meet the diagnostic criteria for chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus (CKD-aP).
1. Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) presenting with pruritus, with other identifiable causes of pruritus excluded.
2. Pruritus occurring on at least 3 days within a 2-week period, with multiple episodes per day, each lasting for several minutes, and having an impact on the patient's daily life.
3. Recurrent pruritus persisting for at least 6 weeks.A diagnosis requires that all three criteria above be met simultaneously.
5. The subjects were evaluated using the Worst Itch Numerical Rating Scale (WI-NRS) for the most severe pruritus intensity and met the baseline pruritus intensity of ≥ 4 points.
6. The subjects have completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) assessment during the screening period and met the baseline PSQI score \> 7 points.
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Participants with other serious systemic diseases that may affect their ability to participate in the study, as assessed by the investigator, including but not limited to:
1. Severe cardiovascular diseases, such as unstable angina, myocardial infarction, severe arrhythmias, World Health Organization (WHO) heart function classification III-IV during screening, poorly controlled hypertension or hypotension despite active treatment, and recurrent asthma.
2. A history of cerebrovascular accident (CVA) within the last 6 months.
3. Malignant tumors, excluding those that are curable, such as cervical carcinoma in situ, basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, or any other cancer that has been cured (with no evidence of disease recurrence for 5 years).
2. It is expected to undergo kidney transplantation and/or parathyroidectomy during the study period.
3. The subjects are currently undergoing ultraviolet B treatment or are expected to receive such treatment during the study period.
4. Have participated in any clinical trials of other drugs or medical devices within one month prior to screening (treatment with drugs or medical devices that have received clinical trials).
5. Patients who have used the following drugs within 7 days before screening:
1. those who have used opioids.
2. those who must use opioids other than the investigational drug during the study period.
3. those who has used gabapentin, pregabalin and calcineurin inhibitors;
4. those who use drugs that can affect the efficacy judgment of anti-itching, including but not limited to antipsychotic drugs, sedative-hypnotic drugs, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), anti-anxiety drugs, or tricyclic antidepressants.
6. After screening and enrollment, new antihistamines (such as antihistamines and corticosteroids, etc. (oral, intravenous or topical)) were prescribed, or the types, dosages or frequencies of these drugs were changed.
7. Patients who have used any hypnotic or sedative medications (including benzodiazepine hypnotics, non-benzodiazepine hypnotics, melatonin receptor agonists, etc.) within 1 month prior to the screening period and baseline assessment.
8. There is a history of allergy to opioid drugs, or it is known that there is a history of allergy to investigatory drugs or components of remedial drugs or other drugs or excipients with similar chemical structures.
9. Severe hematological and liver function abnormalities during screening, meeting any one of the following clinical laboratory test results:
1. Hematology: Hemoglobin \< 80g/L.
2. Liver function:
* Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) \> 2.5× upper limit of normal (ULN).
* Total bilirubin (TBIL) \> 2×ULN.
10. Subjects who had any active infections during screening and whom the researchers considered unsuitable for inclusion (including but not limited to acute hepatitis, skin infections, etc.).
11. As determined by the researchers, any other physical or mental illness or condition that may increase the risk of the trial, affect the subjects' compliance with the protocol, or affect the subjects' completion of the trial.
Where it's running
-
Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, No. 253 Gongye Road, Guangzhou, 510282, China
Guangzhou, Guangdong, China Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Fengxian Li, DM
- Email: lifengxian81@smu.edu.cn
- Phone: +86-20-62782857
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.