Study Finds No Improvement In Quality Of Life With ESAs

Erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESAs) continue to be widely prescribed despite the absence of evidence demonstrating benefit. TREAT– the first and only large trial to test clinical outcomes with the drugs–showed that ESAs did not reduce clinical events, though it did raise concerns that the drugs might increase the risk of stroke. Critics say that the drugs…

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Amgen Trial Fails To Show Benefit Of Anemia Drug In Heart Failure Patients

  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…

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