Epoetin Delta in the Management of Renal Anaemia: Results of a 6-month Study

Background: Epoetin delta is an epoetin that, unlike existing agents, is produced in a human cell line. The present study investigated the efficacy and tolerability of intravenous (i.v.) epoetin delta compared with i.v. epoetin alfa.

Methods: This was a 6-month, multicentre, randomized, double-blind trial in haemodialysis patients previously receiving epoetin alfa. Haematological parameters were assessed, and adverse events monitored. Equivalent efficacy was defined as a difference in mean haemoglobin between the two agents over weeks 12-24 of < or = 1 g/dl with a 90% confidence interval (CI) within the range -1 to 1 g/dl.

Results: In total, 560 patients received epoetin delta while 192 received epoetin alfa, and 76.8% and 79.7% of patients, respectively, completed the study. Both agents showed similar efficacy in controlling anaemia: the point estimate for the difference in mean haemoglobin over weeks 12-24 was 0.01 g/dl (90% CI, -0.13, 0.15 g/dl), confirming equivalence. Adverse events were those expected in dialysis patients. Events possibly related to treatment occurred in 9.2% of patients receiving epoetin delta and 8.4% receiving epoetin alfa. Serious adverse events (SAEs) occurred in 33.0% and 26.7% of patients in the epoetin delta and epoetin alfa groups, respectively. Six patients in the epoetin delta group experienced an SAE considered possibly related to treatment (mostly access-related clotting), compared with no patient in the epoetin delta group. None of these SAEs were life threatening.

Conclusions: Epoetin delta was shown to have an equivalent efficacy and safety profile to epoetin alfa in this 6-month study.