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.