Conditions: Anemia
Keywords: Chemotherapy associated anemia in cancer patients
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 114
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
This is a randomized, double-blind, multicenter clinical phase III study involving about 105 cancer patients aged \>18 years who are receiving palliative chemotherapy and who are suffering from chemotherapy associated anemia. A standard treatment group (ERYPO®) will be included to provide a reference reflecting current standard medical practice.

Detailed description:
Eligible patients were randomized to one of two different treatment groups (EPO HEXAL or ERYPO) in a 2:1 ratio. Patients received double-blind treatment for a period of 12 weeks. Following randomization the patients were treated subcutaneously with a dose of 150 IU/kg body weight of study drug three times per week. Dose adjustments to 300 IU/kg body weight three times per week were to be done if hemoglobin (Hb) increased \<1.0 g/dL or the reticulocyte count increased \<40,000 /μl after 4 weeks or if Hb increased \<2.0 g/dL after 8 weeks of treatment. The primary endpoint was the Hb response in the EPO HEXAL group during weeks 5-12 of the study defined as absolute increase in Hb value of 2.0 g/dL from the mean value of the screening/baseline period in the absence of red blood cell transfusion during the preceding 4 weeks. For that purpose, Hb levels were measured at the weekly study visits by a central laboratory. Further parameters of treatment efficacy, safety and tolerability were recorded.

Arms:
arm 1: HX575 (erythropoietin alfa of the Sponsor Hexal AG). Eligible patients to be randomized in ratio 2:1 and to be subcutaneously treated (solution for injection (s.c.)) for 12 weeks with HX575 in pre-filled syringes. The maximum weekly dose of HX575 was 300 IU/kg body weight to maintain hemoglobin levels in the therapeutic range. Application of the drug required at least once per week and allowed maximum three times per week. arm 2: ERYPO® Janssen-Cilag, Germany. Eligible patients were treated subcutaneously (solution for injection (s.c.)) with ERYPO® (Janssen-Cilag, Germany) in pre-filled syringes for 12 weeks.The maximum weekly dose of HX575 was 300 IU/kg body weight to maintain hemoglobin levels in the therapeutic range. Application of the drug required at least once per week and allowed maximum three times per week.

Interventions: intervention 1: HX575, solution for injection (s.c.) intervention 2: ERYPO®, Janssen-Cilag, solution for injection (s.c.)
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: 1000, 2000, 4000, 8000 and 10.000 IU of rh erythropoiethin intervention 2: 1000, 2000, 4000, 8000 and 10.000 IU of epoetin alfa

Protocol document: