FDA Approves Relypsa’s Blood Potassium Treatment

The FDA Oct. 21 approved Relypsa Inc.'s Veltassa (patiromer for oral suspension) to treat hyperkalemia, a serious condition in which the amount of potassium in the blood is too high.

Potassium, a mineral that is delivered to the body by food, is needed for cells to function properly, the Food and Drug Administration said. The kidneys remove potassium from the blood to maintain a proper balance of potassium in the body but when the kidneys aren’t able to remove enough potassium from the blood, the level of potassium can get too high.

Hyperkalemia typically occurs in patients with acute or ...