Conditions: Anemia
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 80
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
This 2 arm study will compare the efficacy of monthly Mircera and epoetin alfa in peritoneal dialysis patients who self-inject at home or receive in-centre injections. The safety of subcutaneous (sc) Mircera and injection site reactions and patient satisfaction will also be assessed. Eligible patients will be randomized either to receive monthly sc injections of Mircera (and will be switched from sc epoetin alfa) at a starting dose of 120-360 micrograms, or to remain on standard of care sc epoetin alfa. Dose adjustments will be permitted to reach/maintain a hemoglobin level of 10-12g/dL. The anticipated time on study treatment is 3-12 months, and the target sample size is 380 individuals.

Detailed description:

Arms:
arm 1: Eligible participants will be administered RO0503821 (methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta \[Mircera\]) subcutaneously (SC) every month for eight months (6 months of titration period \[TP\] and two months of evaluation period \[EP\] and 15-days following the final study visit (9 months post randomization). The first dose of Mircera (120, 200, or 360 mcg) will be based upon the dose of epoetin alfa received 1 to 2 weeks prior to administration of study drug, while subsequent doses will be adjusted to maintain haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations within target of \>=10.0 gram per decilitre (g/dL) and \<=12.0 g/dL. Participants who self-administered/visited to clinics for erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA) dosing prior to randomization will continue to do so. arm 2: Eligible participants will be administered epoetin alfa SC as per the standard of care for eight months (TP and EP), and will be followed-up for 15 days following the final study visit. Participants who self-administered/visited to clinics for ESA dosing prior to randomization will continue to do so.

Interventions: intervention 1: Epoetin alfa intervention 2: methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta [Mircera]
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: As prescribed, SC intervention 2: 120-360 micrograms SC monthly, starting dose

Protocol document: