|
Once-weekly epoetin beta as efficacious as multiple
dosing
Once-weekly subcutaneous epoetin beta (NeoRecormon)
achieves similar efficacy in anaemia management in patients with chronic
renal failure as current regimens of two or three times weekly. This was
the result of a trial presented at the 23rd congress of the European Dialysis
and Transplant Association this week in Vienna, Austria.
In the open-label, randomised, parallel group study,
173 patients with chronic renal failure were randomised to continue with
subcutaneous epoetin beta three times weekly or to switch to the same
total dose given once weekly. Analysis in 134 patients showed no difference
in the doses given over 24 weeks for the two dosage regimens. “The difference
in the time-adjusted area under the curve for haematocrit was just 0.54
per cent lower for patients on once-weekly epoetin beta compared to those
randomised to multiple weekly dosing,” reported lead investigator Professor
Francesco Locatelli, professor of nephrology, Brescia and Milan University,
Italy. The mean weekly epoetin beta doses in the two different regimens
were similar over the trial. Once-weekly administration of epoetin beta
for renal anaemia has now been granted approval in Europe, with a United
Kingdom licence expected in the near future.
There is growing interest in using flexible dosing
regimens for the management of renal anaemia. A survey of 80 nephrologists
from four European countries, including the UK, presented at the congress,
showed that 97 per cent of participants want erythropoietin treatment
that is flexible, and can be used once, twice or three times weekly. Easy
self-administration was also rated highly.
Dr Iain Macdougall, consultant nephrologist at King’s
College Hospital, London, commented: “The survey shows that physicians
are looking for a flexible treatment of choice; one that allows them to
tailor treatment on an individual patient basis, in turn offering greater
cost savings and allowing patients to lead more normal lifestyles.”
He suggested that target haemoglobin levels should be individualised for
different patients, based on factors including their age, physical activity
and co-morbidity.
— Contributed
|
