The American College of Physicians (ACP) is recommending more conservative use of transfusions and erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) in anemia patients with heart disease. But the authors of the new clinical practice guidelines, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, acknowledge that the evidence base is too flimsy to support firm conclusions. “Overall,” wrote the authors, “despite the epidemiologic and…
New Guideline Recommends Conservative Treatment for Heart Patients with Anemia
December 2, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Another Negative Trial With Darbepoetin Alfa
March 10, 2013 by 1 Comment
Once again a trial testing the erythropoiesis-stimulating agent darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp, Amgen) has produced a negative result. Results of the RED-HF (Reduction of Events by Darbepoetin Alfa in Heart Failure) trial were presented at the ACC in San Francisco and published simultaneously in the New England Journal of Medicine. A total of 2278 patients with systolic heart failure…
Amgen Trial Fails To Show Benefit Of Anemia Drug In Heart Failure Patients
January 16, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The bad news continues for Aranesp (darbepoetin alfa), Amgen’s long-acting erythropoietin-stimulating agent. The drug is intended to stimulate red cell blood production in patients with anemia. Amgen today announced the top line results of a large phase 3 heart failure trial of the drug and said the trial had failed to meet its primary endpoint. The RED-HF…
Amgen Pleads Guilty To Misbranding Anemia Drug Aranesp
December 18, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Biotechnology giant Amgen today pleaded guilty in federal court to a misdemeanor charge of misbranding Aranesp (darbepoetin alfa), its highly successful anemia drug. The government accused Amgen of marketing Aranesp for indications not approved by the FDA and other illegal marketing practices. The judge deferred a decision on the plea until Wednesday. When the final settlement…
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