Vera's Trutakna Matches Vertex's Voyxact Launch Pace, Survey Shows

A new survey of nephrologists shows that Vera Therapeutics' (VERA) IgA nephropathy (IgAN) treatment, Trutakna, is performing on par with the initial launch of Vertex Pharmaceuticals' (VRTX) competing drug, Voyxact. The analysis by Raymond James suggests Trutakna is gaining market share while Voyxact's growth shows signs of moderation.

Survey Details and Key Findings

The data comes from an October survey of 75 IgAN-treating nephrologists conducted by Spherix Global Insights. According to the Raymond James note, the findings at the three-month mark post-launch for Trutakna are significant.

• Trutakna is showing a launch trajectory similar to Voyxact at the same point in its rollout across key metrics, including new patient initiations and total user base.
• Compared to survey results from August, Voyxact's growth appears to be slowing down.
• Trutakna is reportedly continuing to capture market share in the B cell-targeting class for IgAN.

Physician Preference and Dosing

Analysts at Raymond James highlighted a key trend from previous surveys: physicians appear to favor Trutakna’s dual BAFF/APRIL inhibitory mechanism over Voyxact’s APRIL-only suppression. This preference is notable as it persists despite Voyxact's more convenient once-monthly dosing schedule compared to Trutakna's once-weekly administration.

Ad

This trend could have broader implications for the market, potentially benefiting other drugs with a similar mechanism. Raymond James maintained its Strong Buy rating on Vera Therapeutics and a Market Perform rating on Vertex Pharmaceuticals following the report.

Looking Ahead

The focus now partly shifts to another pipeline candidate from Vertex, povetacicept, which also functions as a dual BAFF/APRIL inhibitor but offers the advantage of monthly dosing. Povetacicept has a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date of November 30, 2026.

Phase 3 data for all three drugs—Voyxact, Trutakna, and povetacicept—were recently presented at the American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week conference. Raymond James expects the event to raise overall awareness and adoption of the entire B cell-targeting drug class for treating IgAN.