Hyperphosphatemia associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) seems to be involved in the development of vascular calcifications and can be considered as a risk factor for cardiovascular events in addition to classical risk factors. A new phosphate-binding drug, lanthanum carbonate, has recently been marketed and has rapidly been added to the available therapeutic arsenal for hyperphosphatemia together with calcium salts and sevelamer.
We reviewed the new data published on this drug, as well as the results from the main clinical trials. Lanthanum carbonate shows an adequate safety profile and is highly active in terms of binding dietary phosphorus. Results from comparative trials versus sevelamer show a higher efficacy in terms of reduction of serum phosphate in favor of lanthanum carbonate. Both drugs may slow the progression of vascular calcifications in patients with CKD compared with calcium-based binders. This finding, as well as the potential benefit of lanthanum carbonate in increasing life expectancy in CKD patients over 65 years old, needs to be confirmed in new, long-term comparative trials.