Intervention: rhEPO
Trial phase: Phase 3
SMILES: COC1C(O)CC(=O)OC(C)CC=CC=CC(OC2CC(C)(O)C(O)C(C)O2)C(C)CC(CCO)C1OC1OC(C)C(OC2CC(C)(O)C(O)C(C)O2)C(N(C)C)C1O
Sex: All
Age groups: Adult | Older Adult
Healthy volunteers: No
Participants at risk: 1053
Group description: Participants received epoetin alfa (only use of Procrit®, Eprex® and Epogen® permitted in the study) SC or IV injection TIW, except for participants treated with epoetin alfa in a less frequent regimen prior to study entry. For participants treated with an erythropoietin analogue at study entry, the initial dose of epoetin alfa was the actual dose administered at screening Visit 1. Participants treated with darbepoetin alfa or methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta prior to study entry initially received epoetin alfa at doses based on a conversion factor. For participants not treated with an erythropoietin analogue at study entry, the initial dose of epoetin alfa was 50 IU/kg TIW. Dose adjustments were to be consistent with local approved prescribing information.
Eligibility criteria:
Inclusion criteria:

Provision of Informed Consent prior to any study specific procedures
Age ≥18 years at screening visit 1

Previous versions of the protocol prior to US amendment ver 6.0 and outside of US amendment ver 7.0:

Receiving or initiating hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis for treatment of native kidney end-stage renal disease (ESRD) at least 30 days prior to visit 1. Patients treated with hemodialysis must have access consisting of an arteriovenous fistula, AV graft, or tunneled (permanent) catheter. Patients on peritoneal dialysis must have a functioning peritoneal dialysis catheter in place.

Starting with US amendment ver. 6.0 and outside of US amendment ver 7.0 (changed to recruit incident dialysis patients only):

Receiving or initiating hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis for treatment of native kidney end-stage renal disease (ESRD) for a minimum of 2 weeks and a maximum of 4 months prior to randomization. Patients treated with hemodialysis must have access consisting of an arteriovenous fistula, AV graft, or tunneled (permanent) catheter. Patients on peritoneal dialysis must have a functioning peritoneal dialysis catheter in place.

Two central laboratory Hb values during the screening period, obtained at least 7 days apart, must be <12 g/dL in patients currently treated with an erythropoietin analogue or <10 g/dL in patients not currently treated with an erythropoietin analogue. Patients are considered not currently treated if they have not received either Mircera® for at least 8 weeks or any other erythropoietin analogue for at least 4 weeks prior to visit 1.
Ferritin ≥100 ng/mL at randomization (obtained from screening visit)
TSAT ≥20% at randomization (obtained from screening visit)
Serum folate level ≥ lower limit of normal (LLN) at randomization (obtained from screening visit)
Serum vitamin B12 level ≥ LLN at randomization (obtained from screening visit)
Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤3x upper limit of normal (ULN), and total bilirubin (Tbili) ≤1.5 x ULN at randomization (obtained from screening visit)
Body weight 45 to 160 kg (prescribed dry weight)

Exclusion criteria:

Involvement in the planning and/or conduct of the study (applies to both AstraZeneca staff and/or staff at the study site)
Previous randomisation in the present study
New York Heart Association Class III or IV congestive heart failure at enrolment
Myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome, stroke, seizure or a thrombotic/thromboembolic event (e.g., deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism) within 12 weeks prior to randomization
History of chronic liver disease (e.g., chronic infectious hepatitis, chronic auto-immune liver disease, cirrhosis or fibrosis of the liver)
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
Known and untreated retinal vein occlusion or known and untreated proliferative diabetic retinopathy (risk for retinal vein thrombosis)
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.
Uncontrolled hypertension at the time of randomization (defined as systolic BP ≥180 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥100 mmHg on repeated measurement post-dialysis in hemodialysis patients or at any time in peritoneal dialysis patients), contraindication to epoetin alfa treatment (e.g., pure red cell aplasia, hypersensitivity or know inability to tolerate epoetin alfa)
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.
Positive for any of the following: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) or anti-hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV Ab)
Chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, SLE, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease that is determined to be the principal cause of anemia
Known hemosiderosis, hemochromatosis or hypercoagulable condition
Any prior organ transplant with the exception of an autologous renal transplant or a renal transplant that was subsequently removed ("explanted") or scheduled organ transplantation date
Any red blood cell (RBC) transfusion during the screening period
Any current condition leading to active significant blood loss
Any prior treatment with roxadustat or a hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor (HIF-PHI)
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 the month preceding 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)
History of alcohol or drug abuse within 2 years prior to randomization
Females of childbearing potential, unless using contraception as detailed in the protocol or sexual abstinence (see Section 3.8)
Pregnant or breastfeeding females
Known allergy to the investigational product or any of its ingredients
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