Amgen Epogen boosts hematocrit levels in anemic ESRD patients, improves quality of life, study says.
Executive Summary
AMGEN EPOGEN RAISES HEMATOCRIT LEVELS UP TO 30% FROM 26% AT BASELINE at first follow-up reported in kidney dialysis patients who were treated with epoietin alfa therapy for anemia. The patients were part of the 2,100-person open-label, multi-center National Cooperative Recombinant Human Erythropoietin Study published in the May issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. At the time of the Amgen-sponsored study, which began in 1990, recommended hematocrit ranges were 30%-33%; the recommended range since has been broadened to 30%-36%, Amgen noted.