Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Phase 2b Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Assess the Pharmacodynamic Response, Safety, and Tolerability to 20 Weeks of Oral Dosing of AKB-6548 in Participants With Anemia Secondary to Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), GFR Categories G3a-G5 (Stages 3, 4, AND 5) (Pre-Dialysis)
Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the hemoglobin response (efficacy), safety, and tolerability of orally administered AKB-6548 in participants with Chronic Kidney Disease (pre-dialysis) with anemia with dosing for 20 weeks.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age and weight: \>/= 18 years of age and \>/= 45 kg.
2. Not routinely undergoing dialysis, regardless of the modality (either hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis) or dialysis planned during the time the subject would be enrolled in the study.
3. No current or prior rhEPO use within the past 7 weeks; e.g., epoetins (or their biosimilars), darbepoetin, Mircera (methoxy polyethylene glycol epoetin beta), peginesatide or their biosimilars..
4. KDOQI CKD stages 3/4/5 defined by eGFR using the Modification of Diet for Renal Disease (MDRD).
5. Hgb: Hgb concentrations 8.5-11.0 g/dL (inclusive) as outlined in Section 4.2.
6. Vitamin B12: Above the lower limit of the reference range (may rescreen in 2 months).
7. Folate: \>/=2.0 ng/mL at Screening. May rescreen in a month.
8. Ferritin: \>/=40 ng/mL with the absence of microcytic or hypochromic RBCs.
9. TSAT within the reference range.
10. Iron replacement therapy: Stable maintenance dose of oral iron replacement therapy, if required, that will be maintained throughout the study. NOTE: IV iron replacement therapy is not allowed the two weeks prior to Screening through the end of the study (Week 6).
11. QTc: QTcB \<470 msec or QTcB \<480 msec in subjects with bundle branch block obtained at Screening Visit, based on Central Reader's interpretation.
12. Females: Eligible to participate if she is of childbearing potential, and must agree to use approved contraception methods from Screening until completion of the Follow-up Visit OR of non-childbearing potential defined as pre-menopausal females with a documented tubal ligation of hysterectomy; or postmenopausal defined as 12 months of spontaneous amenorrhea \[in questionable cases a blood sample with simultaneous follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)\>40 MIU/ml and estradiol \<40 pg/ml is confirmatory\]. Females on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) whose menopausal status is in doubt will be required to use one of the approved contraception methods if they wish to continue their HRT during the study. Otherwise they must discontinue HRT to allow confirmation of post-menopausal status prior to study enrollment. For most types of HRT, at least 2 weeks will elapse between the cessation of therapy and the blood draw; this interval depends on the type and dosage of HRT. Following confirmation of their post-menopausal status, they can resume use of HRT during the study without use of a contraceptive method.
13. Males: Must agree to use approved contraceptive methods from the time of Screening until completion of the Follow-up Visit.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Dialysis: Planning to initiate dialysis during the study or who have a high potential for initiating dialysis during study participation.
2. Renal transplant: Renal transplant anticipated or scheduled within the study time period or subjects with a functioning renal transplant.
3. Total CPK: \>5x the upper limit of the reference range.
4. HIV: Positive HIV antibody.
5. History of myocardial infarction or acute coronary syndrome within the prior 6 months.
6. History of stroke or TIAs.
7. Heart failure: Class III/IV heart failure, as defined by the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification system.
8. Hypertension: Poorly controlled hypertension, whether due to inadequate treatment, or lack of treatment, defined as DBP \>100 mmHg or SBP\>160 mmHg.
9. Thrombotic disease: History of thrombotic disease (e.g., venous thrombosis such as deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, or arterial thrombosis such as new onset or worsening limb ischemia requiring intervention), or other thrombosis related condition) within the prior 6 months.
10. Pulmonary hypertension: Known pulmonary hypertension and those at higher risk (than normally associated with CKD) for pre-existing elevation in pulmonary pressure (e.g., significant heart failure or lung disease requiring supplemental oxygen, or those with connective tissue diseases).
11. Inflammatory disease: Chronic inflammatory disease that could impact erythropoiesis (e.g., scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosis, rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease).
12. Hematological disease: Any hematological disease including those affecting platelets, the coagulation disorders (e.g., Protein C or S deficiency) or red blood cells (e.g. sickle cell anemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, hematological malignancy, myeloma, hemolytic anemia) or any other cause of anemia other than renal disease.
13. Liver disease: Current liver disease, known hepatic or biliary abnormalities (with the exception of Gilbert's syndrome or asymptomatic gallstones) or evidence at Screening of abnormal liver function tests \[alkaline phosphatase, ALT or AST \> 2.0 x upper limit of normal (ULN) or total bilirubin \> 1.5 x ULN\]; or other hepatic abnormalities that in the opinion of the investigator would preclude the subject from participation in the study.
14. Major surgery: Within the prior 12 weeks or planned during the study.
15. Transfusion: Blood transfusion within the prior 12 weeks or an anticipated need for blood transfusion during the study.
16. Ulcer and Active GI Bleeding: Evidence of active peptic, duodenal, or esophageal ulcer disease or active GI bleeding within the prior 12 weeks.
17. Acute infection: Clinical evidence of acute infection or history of infection requiring intravenous (IV) antibiotic therapy the eight weeks prior to Screening through Day 1 (randomization).
18. Malignancy: History of malignancy within 5 years of Screening or are receiving treatment for cancer or those with a strong family history of cancer (e.g., familial cancer disorders), with the exception of squamous cell or basal cell carcinoma of the skin that has been definitively treated.
19. Hyperparathyroidism: Clinically significant hyperparathyroidism in the opinion of the Investigator, including subjects with parathyroid hormone (PTH) values ≥600 pg/mL.
20. Eyes: History of proliferative retinopathy requiring treatment within the prior 12 months, or macular edema requiring treatment.
21. Severe reactions: History of severe allergic or anaphylactic reactions or hypersensitivity to excipients in the investigational product.
22. Drugs and supplements: Use of any prescription or non-prescription drugs or dietary supplements that are prohibited from Screening until the Follow-up Visit.
23. Androgens: New androgen therapy or changes to pre-existing androgen regimen within prior 12 weeks.
24. Prior investigational product exposure: The subject has participated in a clinical trial and has received an experimental investigational product within prior 30 days.
25. Protocol compliance: Unwillingness or inability to follow the procedures, or lifestyle and/or dietary restrictions outlined in the protocol.
26. Other conditions: Any condition which in the investigators opinion should exclude the subject from participating in the study.
27. Pregnancy and lactation: Pregnant females as determined by positive urine hCG test, OR women who are lactating at Screening or during the trial.
B: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Provision of informed consent prior to any study specific procedures.
2. Age ≥18 years at screening visit 1
3. eGFR \<60 mL/min/1.73 m2, (calculated by central lab) corresponding to stage 3, 4 or 5CKD according to the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI), not receiving dialysis
4. Mean of 2 most recent central laboratory Hb values during the screening period, obtained at least 7 days apart, must be \<10.0 g/dL
5. Ferritin ≥50 ng/mL at randomization (obtained from screening visit)
6. TSAT ≥15 % at randomization (obtained from screening visit)
7. Serum folate level ≥ lower limit of normal (LLN) at randomization (obtained from screening visit)
8. Serum vitamin B12 level ≥LLN at randomization (obtained from screening visit)
9. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤3 x upper limit of normal (ULN) and total bilirubin (Tbili) ≤1.5 x ULN at randomization (obtained from screening visit)
10. Body weight 45 to 160 kg

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Involvement in the planning and/or conduct of the study (applies to both AstraZeneca staff and/or staff at the study site)
2. Previous randomization in the present study
3. Any erythropoietin analogue treatment within 6 weeks of randomization
4. New York Heart Association Class III or IV congestive heart failure at enrollment
5. Myocardial infarction (MI), acute coronary syndrome, stroke, seizure or a thrombotic/thromboembolic event (e.g., deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism) within 12 weeks prior to randomization
6. History of chronic liver disease (e.g., chronic infectious hepatitis, chronic auto- immune liver disease, cirrhosis or fibrosis of the liver)
7. Known hereditary hematologic disease such as thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, a history of pure red cell aplasia or other known causes for anemia other than CKD
8. Known and untreated retinal vein occlusion or known and untreated proliferative diabetic retinopathy (risk for retinal vein thrombosis)
9. Diagnosis or suspicion (e.g. complex kidney cyst of Bosniak Category IIF, III or IV) of renal cell carcinoma on renal ultrasound (or other imaging procedure e.g. CT scan or MRI) conducted at screening or within 12 weeks prior to randomization
10. Systolic BP ≥160 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥95 mmHg (confirmed by repeated measurement), within 2 weeks prior to randomization. Patients may be rescreened once BP controlled
11. History of prostate cancer, breast cancer or any other malignancy, except the following: cancers determined to be cured or in remission for ≥5 years, curatively resected basal cell or squamous cell skin cancers, cervical cancer in situ, or resected colonic polyps
12. Positive for any of the following: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) or anti-hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV Ab)
13. Chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease that is determined to be the principal cause of anemia
14. Known hemosiderosis, hemochromatosis or hypercoagulable condition
15. Any prior organ transplant or a scheduled organ transplantation date
16. Any red blood cell transfusion (RBC) during the screening period
17. Any current condition leading to active significant blood loss
18. Any treatment with roxadustat or a hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor (HIF-PHI)
19. Has received another new chemical entity (defined as a compound which has not been approved for marketing) or has participated in any other clinical study that included drug treatment within at least 1 month of the first administration of IP in this study. (Note: patients consented and screened, but not randomized in this study or a previous study are not excluded)
20. History of alcohol or drug abuse within 2 years prior to randomization
21. Females of childbearing potential, unless using contraception as detailed in the protocol or sexual abstinence
22. Pregnant or breastfeeding females
23. Known allergy to the investigational product or any of its ingredients
24. Any medical condition, including active, clinically significant infection, that in the opinion of the investigator or Sponsor may pose a safety risk to a patient in this study, which may confound efficacy or safety assessment or may interfere with study participation
C: Key Inclusion Criteria:

* 18 to 82 years of age, inclusive
* Chronic Kidney Disease with a GFR category of G3a-G5 and not yet on dialysis
* eGFR ≥ 10 and ≤ 65 mL/minute/1.73 m2
* Anemia secondary to CKD with an ESA status and a Screening HGB as per protocol
* Iron replete with ferritin and TSAT levels as defined per protocol

Key Exclusion Criteria:

* BMI \> 44.0 kg/m2
* Red blood cell transfusion within 11 weeks prior to the Screening visit
* Androgen therapy within the previous 21 days prior to the Screening visit
* Intravenous iron within the past 4 weeks prior to the Screening visit
* AST or ALT \>1.8x ULN, alkaline phosphatase \>2x ULN, or total bilirubin \>1.5x ULN
* Screening ECG with QTc \> 500 msec
* Uncontrolled hypertension
* Class III or IV congestive heart failure
* Myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome, or stroke within 6 months prior to the Screening visit
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* \>=18 years of age at the time of signing the informed consent.
* Have CKD, confirmed at screening: Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) CKD stages 3, 4, or 5 defined by Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using the CKD Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) formula.
* Participants with Stable HemoCue Hgb from 8.5 to 10.5 at screening visit (Week -4) and from 8.5 to 10.0 g/dL at randomization (Day 1).
* Participants may receive up to one intravenous (IV) iron dose within the 8 weeks prior to screening and NO IV iron use between screening visit and randomization (Day 1).
* If needed, participant may be on stable maintenance oral iron supplementation. There should be \<50% change in overall dose and no change in type of iron prescribed in the 4 weeks prior to Day 1 randomization visit.
* Male and female participants are eligible. A female participant is eligible to participate if she is not pregnant, not breastfeeding, and at least one of the following conditions applies: Not a woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP) or WOCBP who agrees to follow the contraceptive guidance during the treatment period and for at least 4 weeks after the last dose of study treatment.
* Capable of giving signed informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Participants who are on dialysis or clinical evidence of impending need to initiate dialysis within 180 days after randomization (Day 1).
* Planned living-related or living-unrelated kidney transplant within 28 weeks after randomization (Day 1).
* Transferrin saturation (TSAT) \<15 percent (Screening only).
* Ferritin \<50 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) (Screening only).
* History of rhEPO or rhEPO analogue use within the 8 weeks prior to screening and rhEPO use between screening and randomization (Day 1).
* History of transfusion within the 8 weeks prior to screening and transfusion between screening and randomization (Day 1).
* History of bone marrow aplasia or pure red cell aplasia (PRCA).
* Participants with Megaloblastic anemia (untreated pernicious anemia and folate deficiency), thalassemia major, sickle cell disease or myelodysplastic syndrome.
* Evidence of actively bleeding gastric, duodenal, or esophageal ulcer disease or clinically significant gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding \<= 8 weeks prior to screening through to randomization (Day 1).
* History of severe allergic or anaphylactic reactions or hypersensitivity to excipients in the investigational product.
* Use of strong inhibitor of CYP2C8 (for example, gemfibrozil) or strong inducers of CYP2C8 (for example, rifampin/rifampicin).
* Ferric citrate use within 4 weeks prior to randomization (Day 1).
* Use of other investigational agent or device prior to screening through to randomization (Day 1).
* Any prior treatment with daprodustat for a treatment duration of \>30 days.
* MI or acute coronary syndrome within the 8 weeks prior to screening through to randomization. (Day 1).
* Stroke or transient ischemic attack within the 8 weeks prior to screening through to randomization. (Day 1).
* Chronic Class IV heart failure, as defined by the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification system.
* QT interval corrected by Bazett's formula (QTcB) \>500 milliseconds (msec) or QTcB \>530 msec in participants with bundle branch block. There is no corrected QT interval (QTc) exclusion for participants with a predominantly paced rhythm.
* Alanine transaminase (ALT) \>2x upper limit of normal (ULN) at screening (Week -4).
* Bilirubin \>1.5xULN at screening (Week -4).
* Current unstable liver or biliary disease per investigator assessment, generally defined by the presence of ascites, encephalopathy, coagulopathy, hypoalbuminemia, esophageal or gastric varices, persistent jaundice, or cirrhosis.
* History of malignancy within the 2 years prior to screening through to randomization (Day 1), or currently receiving treatment for cancer, or complex kidney cyst (for example, Bosniak Category II F, III or IV) \> 3 centimeters (cm).
* Any other condition, clinical or laboratory abnormality, or examination finding that the investigator considers would put the participant at unacceptable risk, which may affect study compliance or prevent understanding of the aims or investigational procedures or possible consequences of the study.
* Current uncontrolled hypertension as determined by the investigator.

Answer: C