Korsuva

Generic name: Difelikefalin
Dosage form: intravenous (bolus) injection
Drug class: Peripheral opioid receptor agonists

Usage of Korsuva

Korsuva is a synthetic peptide and opioid agonist that is injected to treat pruritus or itchy skin in adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who are undergoing hemodialysis.

Korsuva was the first therapy to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this condition when it was approved in August 2021.

Korsuva works by targeting and activating the kappa opioid receptors in your peripheral nervous system. It's not known exactly how this helps to treat pruritus, but it's thought an imbalance in mu- and kappa-opioid receptor system activity plays a role in the development of pruritus.

Korsuva side effects

The most common side effects of Korsuva include:

diarrhea

dizziness

nausea

trouble walking (including falls)

high potassium

headache

sleepiness

mental status changes, such as confusion

These are not all of the possible side effects of Korsuva. Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.

You may report side effects to Vifor (International) Inc. at 1-844-835-8277 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Before taking Korsuva

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether Korsuva will harm your unborn baby.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known whether Korsuva passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you receive Korsuva.

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How to use Korsuva

The recommended dose of Korsuva is 0.5 mcg/kg given by intravenous bolus injection into the venous line of the dialysis circuit at the end of each hemodialysis treatment.

See the full prescribing information for further information about Korsuva dosing.

Warnings

Korsuva may cause serious side effects, including:

Dizziness

Sleepiness. Sleepiness is more likely to occur in patients who are 65 years or older.

Mental status changes, such as confusing

Trouble walking (which may lead to falls).

Taking Korsuva with centrally acting depressant medications (including anti-depressants and medicines used for anxiety, epilepsy, insomnia), sedating antihistamines (allergy medicines that can cause drowsiness), and opioid analgesics (certain pain medications) may increase the likelihood of these side effects.

What other drugs will affect Korsuva

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

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