Mode of Action
KORSUVA® IS A TARGETED, FIRST-IN-CLASS AND THE ONLY LICENSED TREATMENT FOR CKD-ASSOCIATED PRURITUS IN THE US & EU*1,2
By activating kappa-opioid receptors (KORs), KORSUVA® addresses two underlying mechanisms of Chronic Kidney Disease-associated Pruritus (CKD-aP).1-4
- KORSUVA® is a small peptide, with a hydrophilic structure which restricts its diffusions across the blood-brain barrier, limiting access to KORs in the CNS3
- KORSUVA® is highly selective towards KORs (>30,000 fold over mu-opioid receptors (MORs)3
References & footnotes
Footnotes
*In China, Korea and Japan further products are available and indicated for the treatment of CKD-associated Pruritus.
Abbreviations
CKD, chronic kidney disease; CKD-associated Pruritus, Chronic Kidney Disease-associated Pruritus; CNS, central nervous system; KORs, kappa-opioid receptors; MORs, mu-opioid receptors.
References
- Korsuva UAE SmPC. Korsuva KSA SmPC.
- Albert-Vartanian A, et al. Will peripherally restricted kappa-opioid receptor agonists (pKORAs) relieve pain with less opioid adverse effects and abuse potential? Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics. 2016;41:371–382.
- Lipman ZM, Yosipovitch G. An evaluation of difelikefalin as a treatment option for moderate-to-severe pruritus in end stage renal disease. Expert Opin. Pharmacother. 2020;1–7.
- Verduzco HA & Shirazian S. CKD-Associated Pruritus: New Insights Into Diagnosis, Pathogenesis, and Management. Kidney Int Re. 2020;5:1387–1402.
- Beck T C, et al. Therapeutic Potential of Kappa Opioid Agonists. Pharmaceuticals. 2019;12:95.
GCC-DFK-2500011 | Date of preparation: October 2025