CardioExchange Archive

March 10th, 2013

Another Negative Trial of Darbepoetin Alfa

Larry Husten, PHD

For more of our ACC.13 coverage of late-breaking clinical trials, interviews with the authors of the most important research, and blogs from our fellows on the most interesting presentations at the meeting, check out our Coverage Headquarters. Once again a trial testing the erythropoiesis-stimulating agent darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp, Amgen) has produced a negative result. Results of […]

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January 16th, 2013

No Benefit of Darbepoetin Alfa in Heart Failure Patients with Anemia

Larry Husten, PHD

The bad news continues for Aranesp (darbepoetin alfa), Amgen’s long-acting erythropoietin-stimulating agent. The company today announced the top-line results of a large phase 3 heart-failure trial of the drug and said that the trial had failed to meet its primary endpoint. The RED-HF (Reduction of Events With Darbepoetin Alfa in Heart Failure) Trial, which started in 2006, had randomized 2278 […]

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December 18th, 2012

Amgen Pleads Guilty to Misbranding Anemia Drug Aranesp

Larry Husten, PHD

Biotechnology giant Amgen today pleaded guilty in federal court to a misdemeanor charge of misbranding Aranesp (darbepoetin alfa), its highly successful anemia drug. The government accused Amgen of marketing Aranesp for indications not approved by the FDA and other illegal marketing practices. The judge deferred a decision on the plea until Wednesday. When the final settlement is announced further details about […]

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June 24th, 2011

FDA Recommends More-Conservative Dosing of ESAs

Larry Husten, PHD

The FDA today said that it was recommending more-conservative dosing of ESAs (erythropoiesis-stimulating agents) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The possible beneficial effects of the drugs to decrease the need for transfusions in CKD patients should be weighed against the increased risk for cardiovascular events, the FDA said. ESA therapy should be given at […]

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October 19th, 2010

FDA Advisors Recommend No Changes for Aranesp

Larry Husten, PHD

The FDA Cardiovascular and Renal Advisory Committee has endorsed the status quo for Aranesp (darbepoetin alfa). The committee met on Monday to discuss the Trial to Reduce Cardiovascular Events with Aranesp Therapy (TREAT) and voted 15-1-1 against withdrawal of the indication for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients not on dialysis. The committee also voted against adoption […]

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September 15th, 2010

TREAT Analysis: Target Dosing Is Tricky

Larry Husten, PHD

A new analysis of TREAT (Trial to Reduce Cardiovascular Events with Aranesp Therapy) is raising questions about the use of target-based strategies for the treatment of anemia in people with chronic kidney disease. (Last year, the main TREAT results showed that treatment with darbepoetin alfa was not beneficial – and was associated with an increase in the […]

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