Using patiromer to treat high potassium levels in children under 12
Official title: A 2-Part, Open-Label, Phase 2, Multiple Dose Study to Evaluate the Pharmacodynamic Effects, Safety, and Tolerability of Patiromer in Children Under 12 Years of Age With Hyperkalaemia (EMERALD2)
Run by Vifor Pharma · NCT05766839 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing if a medication called patiromer can safely help children under 12 with high potassium levels feel better.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 2 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 0 Years to 11 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 36 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Vifor Pharma Industry-sponsored |
| Locations | 37 sites (Aurora, Colorado and 36 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 6, 2025 |
| Main results expected | December 1, 2029 |
| Study ends | December 1, 2030 |
| Registry record updated | September 25, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT05766839 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are pediatric patients under 12 years old diagnosed with hyperkalemia.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who are not experiencing hyperkalemia or those over the age of 12 will not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This study evaluates the effects, safety, and tolerability of patiromer in children under 12 years of age who have hyperkalemia. It involves administering the medication and monitoring its pharmacodynamic effects over a 28-day period. Eligible participants must have elevated potassium levels confirmed by two separate tests and be able to receive regular feeding and medication. The study aims to gather data on how well patiromer works in this pediatric population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could provide a safe and effective way to manage high potassium levels in young children.
How similar studies have gone: While there is limited data on the use of patiromer specifically in children, similar studies in adults have shown promising results.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Paediatric participants (\<12 years of age) with hyperkalaemia at screening. * Participant's age should not reach 12 years during the 28 days of the pharmacodynamic/dose-ranging period. * Participant is able to receive regular external feeding and medication, including via tubes, i.e., percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) or entero-gastric feeding tube. * At screening/baseline, the results from 2 separate and consecutive potassium assessments using the same measurement method (whole blood, plasma, or serum) need to be above the age-appropriate upper limit of normal (ULN). * In continuation to above criterion: At least 1 sample needs to be taken at screening/baseline and 1 sample should not be older than 30 days, i.e., a historical sample. The average of the 2 potassium values needs to be above the age-appropriate ULN of the measurement method plus 0.5 mEq/l (equivalent to 0.5 mmol/l). If the 2 samples are taken on the day of screening/baseline, the 2 individual potassium values must not differ from each other by more than 0.5 mEq/l. * In the opinion of the Investigator, the participant is expected to require treatment for hyperkalaemia for at least 28 days upon enrolment in the study. * If taking any renin-angiotensin aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi), beta blockers, fludrocortisone, or diuretic medications, must be on a stable dose for at least 14 days prior to screening. * Parent(s) or legally acceptable representative(s) has provided the appropriate written informed consent, in accordance with local regulations. The assent of the child should also be obtained when appropriate or if requested by the Institutional Review Board (IRB)/Ethics Committee (EC)/Independent Ethics Committee (IEC). The written informed consent must be provided before any study specific procedures are performed including screening procedures. * Parent(s) or legally authorised representative(s) or another appropriate person delegated by the legally authorised representatives must be available to help the study-site personnel ensure follow-up; accompany the participant to the study site on each assessment day according to the Schedule of Events (Table 1, Table 2) (e.g., able to comply with scheduled visits, treatment plan, laboratory tests and other study procedures); accurately and reliably dispense investigational product as directed. * Not applicable to Norway sites: Females of childbearing potential must be non-lactating, must have a negative pregnancy test at screening; and must have used an effective, acceptable form of contraception (e.g., abstinence) for at least 1 month before patiromer administration. Females of childbearing potential must agree to continue using contraception throughout the study and for 1 month after the last dose of patiromer. * If undergoing peritoneal dialysis, participants must be on a stable treatment plan for a minimum of 4 weeks prior to screening, or at least 8 weeks prior to screening if newly initiated on peritoneal dialysis. * For participants who have undergone organ transplantation, the general clinical condition must be stable for at least 4 weeks prior to Screening and is not expected to change during the first 4 weeks of the study. * For participants who have undergone organ transplantation, must have persistent hyperkalaemia requiring potassium-lowering therapy despite correction of reversible causes (e.g., high calcineurin inhibitor levels). Exclusion Criteria: * Preterm birth infants with \<37 weeks of gestation cannot be included in Cohort 3. * Participants who due to their general condition, e.g., anaemia or low body weight, are not suitable to have blood volume withdrawn as specified in the Schedule of Events. * Participants with pseudo-hyperkalaemia due to haemolysis or to abnormally high numbers of platelets (above ULN), leukocytes (above ULN), or erythrocytes (above ULN) at screening based on results obtained from the local laboratory. * Any participant with evidence of potential potassium-related 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) changes (i.e., changes consistent with hyper- or hypokalaemia) at screening. * Any participant with serum magnesium \<1.4 mg/dl (0.58 mmol/l) at screening/baseline. * Any of the following renal conditions: maintenance haemodialysis, renal artery stenosis, and acute kidney injury (defined by 2012 Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes) or a history of acute renal insufficiency in the past 3 months. Note: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is not excluded. * A history of or current diagnosis of a severe gastrointestinal (GI) diagnosis or surgery that could affect GI transit of the drug (delayed gastric emptying), such as a severe swallowing disorder, severe gastroesophageal reflux, uncorrected pyloric stenosis, intussusception, any other intestinal obstruction (e.g., Hirschsprung disease, chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, clinically significant postsurgical abdominal adhesions) or any gut-shortening surgical procedure prior to screening. * In continuation to above criterion: Pre-gastric above-mentioned pathologies may be disregarded in case of existence of a PEG or entero-gastric feeding tube, as the PEG or entero-gastric feeding tube will serve for nutrition and investigational product administration. * Liver enzymes (alanine aminotransferase or aspartate aminotransferase) more than 3 times the ULN at screening, based on the local laboratory, as well as the participant's respective age. * Active cancer, currently on cancer treatment, or history of cancer in the past 2 years (except for non-melanoma skin cancer). * Scheduled for kidney transplant procedure during the first 28 days after Day 1. * History of sudden infant death in a sibling (only for participants \<2 years of age at screening). * Has severe hypoxaemia, respiratory acidosis, asphyxia, or hypotension 3 months before screening based on assessment of the Investigator. * Participants treated with sodium polystyrene sulphonate, calcium polystyrene sulphonate, sodium zirconium cyclosilicate, or patiromer within the last 48 hours prior to fulfilling the baseline baseline potassium assessments requested in 4th Inclusion Criterion. * Use of the following medications if doses have not been stable for at least 14 days prior to screening or if doses are anticipated to change during the 4-week pharmacodynamic/ dose-ranging period: digoxin, bronchodilators, theophylline, heparins (including low molecular heparins), tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, cyclosporine, trimethoprim, or cotrimoxazole. * Use of any investigational product for an unapproved indication within 30 days prior to screening or within 5 half-lives, whichever is longer. * Known hypersensitivity to patiromer or its components. * In the opinion of the Investigator, parent(s) or legal representative(s) inability to comply with the protocol. * In the opinion of the Investigator, any medical condition, uncontrolled systemic disease, or serious intercurrent illness that would significantly decrease study compliance or jeopardise the safety of the participant or potentially affect the quality of the data such as: * In continuation to above criterion: hyperkalaemia at screening that requires emergency intervention; cardiovascular event or intervention within 3 months prior to screening; a haemodynamically unstable arrhythmia; hospitalisation for heart failure within the past 3 months; poorly controlled blood pressure; poorly controlled diabetes mellitus or frequent need for adjustment in insulin prescription or recent hospitalisation for treatment of hyper or hypoglycaemia. * If the child is being breastfed: 1. There is suspicion of current alcohol or substance misuse/abuse in breastfeeding mother. 2. The breastfeeding mother is taking potassium supplements
Where it's running
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Children's Hospital Colorado
Aurora, Colorado, United States Recruiting -
Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami
Miami, Florida, United States Recruiting -
Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children
Orlando, Florida, United States Recruiting -
Augusta University - Children's Hospital of Georgia
Augusta, Georgia, United States Recruiting -
University of Illinois College of Medicine
Peoria, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting
Show 31 more locations
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Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics
Kansas City, Missouri, United States Recruiting -
Duke University Hospital
Durham, North Carolina, United States Recruiting -
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Recruiting -
Vanderbilt Children's Hospital Neurology
Nashville, Tennessee, United States Recruiting -
Monash Medical Centre Clayton
Clayton, Australia Recruiting -
The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH)
Parkville, Australia Recruiting -
Children's Hospital Westmead Centre for Kidney Research
Westmead, Australia Recruiting -
Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent
Ghent, Belgium Recruiting -
UZ Leuven
Leuven, Belgium Recruiting -
CHRU Montpellier - Arnaud de Villeneuve
Montpellier, France Recruiting -
Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris Robert-Debre
Paris, France Recruiting -
Hôpital des Enfants - Toulouse
Toulouse, France Recruiting -
Ippokratio Thessaloniki General Hospital
Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece Recruiting -
Pan and Aglaia Kyriakou Children's Hospital
Athens, Greece Recruiting -
Shaare Zedek Medical Center
Jerusalem, Israel Recruiting -
Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel
Petach Tikvah, Israel Recruiting -
Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico
Milan, Italy Recruiting -
IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù
Rome, Italy Recruiting -
Helse Bergen HF Haukeland Universitetssjukehus
Bergen, Norway Recruiting -
Unidade Local de Saude de Santo Antonio, E.P.E.
Porto, Portugal Recruiting -
Sidra Medicine
Doha, Qatar Recruiting -
Spitalul Clinic de Urgenta pentru Copii Louis Turcanu Timisoara
Timișoara, Romania Recruiting -
King Saud University
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Recruiting -
King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Recruiting -
King Abdulaziz Medical City
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Recruiting -
Al Jalila Children's Hospital
Dubai, United Arab Emirates Recruiting -
UF Health Pediatric Multispecialty Center Site
Jacksonville, Florida, United States Terminated -
Northwell Health Cohen Children's Medical Center
New York, New York, United States Not yet recruiting -
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Amarillo
Amarillo, Texas, United States Terminated -
Helsingin Yliopistollinen Keskussairaala Uusi Lastensairaala
Helsinki, Finland Not yet recruiting -
Uniwersytecki Szpital Kliniczny we Wrocławiu
Wroclaw, Poland Not yet recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Trial Registration Coordinator
- Email: clinicaltrials@cslbehring.com
- Phone: +16108784697
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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A Phase 3 test of WS016 for hyperkalemia
This trial tests WS016 in adults with high potassium to see if it can quickly normalize levels and keep them steady for a year.
-
Potassium-friendly plant-based diet for people with advanced CKD
This pilot study tests whether a liberal plant-based diet with normal potassium levels is safe and acceptable for adults with advanced CKD (eGFR <30) who are not on dialysis.
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Oral WS016 to quickly lower and maintain potassium in adults with hyperkalemia
This trial tests whether oral WS016 can quickly lower high potassium and keep potassium in the normal range in adults with hyperkalemia.
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How common high potassium is and what increases the risk in non-dialysis CKD patients in the community
This project will test how common high potassium is and try to find which health and lifestyle factors raise the risk in adults with chronic kidney disease who are not on dialysis.
-
Adding urea to the final dialysis fluid
This test tries adding urea to the dialysis fluid for adults with advanced kidney failure who have very high blood urea and need rapid lowering of potassium or correction of severe acidosis.
-
Using patiromer to improve blood pressure treatment in chronic kidney disease
This study is testing if a medication called patiromer can help improve blood pressure treatment for people with chronic kidney disease by making another medication work better.
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.