Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. has announced the initiation of the VOCAL trial, a post-marketing study conducted in collaboration with DaVita dialysis clinics. This open-label, active-controlled study aims to evaluate the benefits of administering Vafseo® (vadadustat) three times a week for patients with anemia due to chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing in-center hemodialysis. The trial will enroll approximately 350 patients across 18 DaVita clinics, using a 1:1 randomization process. Participants will be involved in the study for up to 33 weeks, which includes screening, treatment, and safety follow-up. The primary endpoint is the change in hemoglobin levels, while secondary endpoints include the incidence of treatment-emergent serious adverse events and the proportion of patients within the target hemoglobin range, among others. Additionally, a sub-study involving 28 patients will analyze blood samples to understand Vafseo's impact on red blood cell phenotypes. Results from this study have not yet been presented and are anticipated to contribute to the understanding of Vafseo's effectiveness and safety profile compared to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA).