The primary purpose of this study is to:

• Evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetic profile of repeated doses IV CR845 over one week in patients who are undergoing hemodialysis. (Part A)
• This study is also investigating whether repeated doses of IV CR845 over two weeks is safe and effective in reducing the intensity of itching in hemodialysis patients with uremic pruritus (Part B).

Placebo-controlled

Inclusion criteria:

• Able to provide written informed consent prior to any study procedures;

• Able to communicate clearly with the Investigator and staff, able to read and understand the study procedures;

• Males or females 18 years of age or older;

• End stage renal disease (ESRD) patients who have been on hemodialysis for at least three months and are currently on hemodialysis:

  • At least three times per week (Part A)
  • Three times per week (Part B)

• Has a body weight ≤ 135 kg

• Part B: Patient who self-reports daily or near daily pruritus during the 6 weeks prior to Screening;

• Part B: Patient who reports a Patient B or Patient C profile on the Patient Self-categorization of Pruritus Disease Severity questionnaire at Screening;

• Part B: At the end of the Run-in Period:

  • Patient who completed ratings of worst itching intensity [visual analog scale (VAS)] at least 8 times out of 14 VAS assessments;
  • Patient who has a mean value of >40 mm on the worst itching VAS over the one week Run-in Period.

Exclusion criteria:

• Known to be non-compliant with dialysis treatment (i.e., has a history of missed dialysis sessions due to non-compliance in the past 2 months);
• Anticipated to receive a kidney transplant during the study;
• Known history of allergic reaction to opiates such as hives (Note: side effects related to the use of opioids such as constipation or nausea would not exclude the patients from the study);
• Known or suspected history of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5)-diagnosed alcohol, narcotic, or other drug abuse or dependence within 12 months prior to Screening;
• Acute or unstable medical condition(s) such as congestive heart failure [New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV], which in the opinion of the Investigator would pose undue risk to the patient or would impede complete collection of the data or its evaluability;
• Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) greater than 2.5X the reference upper limit of normal (ULN), or bilirubin greater than 4X the ULN at Screening;
• Received another investigational drug within 30 days prior to the start of the Run-in Period or has planned to participate in another clinical trial while enrolled in this study
• Part B: Has pruritus probably or definitely attributed to a cause other than ESRD or its complications (e.g., patients with concomitant pruritic dermatological disease or cholestatic liver disease would be excluded). (Note: Patients whose pruritus is attributed to ESRD complications such as hyperparathyroidism, hyperphosphatemia, anemia, or the dialysis procedure or prescription may be enrolled);
• Part B: Has localized itch restricted to the palms of the hands as determined from the Brief Itch Inventory diagram, completed during the Screening Period;
• Part B: Has pruritus only during the dialysis session (by patient report);
• Part B: Has used gabapentin, calcineurin inhibitors, opioids; antipsychotics; systemic or topical corticosteroids (other than otic or ophthalmic preparations); sedatives; hypnotics; anti-anxiety agents selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs); or tricyclic antidepressants for < 4 weeks prior to the start of the Run-In Period or had a dose change within the previous 30 days;
• Part B: Is not willing to abstain from use of antihistamines (oral, IV, or topical) for 3 weeks (from the start of the Run-In Period through the end of Week 2);
• Part B: Not willing to abstain from making changes to topical non-drug treatments (e.g., emollients, creams, oils) for pruritus for 3 weeks (from the start of the Run-In Period through the end of Week 2);
• Part B: Received ultraviolet B treatment within 30 days prior to the start of the Run-in Period.