Another Negative Trial With Darbepoetin Alfa

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 and mild-to-moderate anemia were randomized to darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp, Amgen) or placebo. As expected, treatment with darbepoetin alfa significantly improved hemoglobin levels. However, no significant improvements in outcomes were associated with darbepoetin alfa. Click here to read the full story More…
Source: CardioBrief - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Heart Failure Prevention, Epidemiology & Outcomes anemia Darbepoetin alfa new england journal of medicine Source Type: blogs