According to results recently published in the online edition of The Oncologist, further evidence indicates that Aranesp® (darbepoetin alfa) is at least as effective as Procrit® (epoetin alfa) in preventing anemia and blood transfusions in patients undergoing treatment for cancer. The number of injections of Aranesp® is reduced by half compared to Procrit®, as Aranesp® is only necessary once every two weeks, while Procrit® is required every week.

Recombinant human erythropoietin, or epoetin alfa, is a commonly used drug for cancer patients receiving treatment.   Epoetin alfa has been shown to reduce the severity of anemia and reduce symptoms of fatigue in patients receiving treatment by stimulating the bone marrow to produce more RBCs. Currently, Procrit® is the form of epoetin alfa most often utilized for the treatment of anemia in the United States. More recently, however, Aranesp®, which requires less frequent dosing than Procrit®, has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of anemia caused by chemotherapy in non-myeloid cancers, or cancers that do not originate in blood cells. Less frequent dosing results in fewer injections and fewer office visits for patients, reducing the need for patients and caregivers to take time off from work or leisure. Furthermore, this allows caregivers to spend less time scheduling appointments and giving inpatient care to treat anemia and more time to attend to other patients and work-related activities. The use of Aranesp® is gaining momentum in the clinical setting as results from clinical trials continue to indicate its effectiveness in comparison to Procrit®.

The recent data includes results from 3 separate clinical studies that compared Aranesp® to Procrit® in 312 patients with various cancers who had anemia. Patients in these trials were undergoing treatment for either breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), or gynecologic cancer and received either Aranesp® once every two weeks or Procrit® every week during therapy. Overall, more than 80% of patients from all 3 trials achieved a normal hemoglobin level; however, 81% of patients who received Aranesp® were able to maintain normal hemoglobin levels throughout treatment, while only 75% of patients who received Procrit® were able to maintain normal levels. Rates of blood transfusions were nearly identical between the two groups of patients: 16% of patients treated with Aranesp® required blood transfusions and 17% of patients treated with Procrit® required blood transfusions. According to patient questionnaires, patients reported spending an average of 2 hours traveling to and from the medical office to receive treatment and an average of another 2 hours receiving treatment.

These results provide further evidence that Aranesp® appears to be just as effective as Procrit® in preventing or correcting anemia in patients who are undergoing treatment for cancer. With the less frequent dosing schedule of Aranesp®, patients receive half the amount of injections and spend half the amount of time receiving treatment for anemia.

Comments: Aranesp® would appear to have clear logistic advantages over Procrit® for the treatment of cancer-related and treatment-related anemia.

References:

Schwartzberg L, Yee L, Senecal F, et al. A Randomized Comparison of Every-2-Week Darbepoetin Alfa and Weekly Epoetin Alfa for the Treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced Anemia in Patients With Breast, Lung, or Gynecologic Cancer. The Oncologist . 2004: 9: 696-707. On-line at: http://theoncologist.alphamedpress.org/cgi/content/full/9/6/696.

Amgen. Published Head-to-Head Data Show Aranesp Dosed Every Two Weeks is Comparable to Epoetin Alfa Dosed Once-a-Week. Available at: http://www.amgen.com/news/viewPR.jsp?id=647344. Accessed November 2004