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news.A phase II study of Amgen's Aranesp has shown that the anemia drug also improved symptoms in patients with symptomatic heart failure.
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Amgen, the world’s largest biotechnology company, said that treating anemia with Aranesp in patients with symptomatic heart failure was well-tolerated, effectively raised hemoglobin levels and improved patients’ symptoms. The results were presented at the 2006 American College of Cardiology Scientific Session.
“There is increasing evidence of a link between anemia and heart failure, and of the potential that treating anemia in heart failure patients may be beneficial over time,” said Dr Dirk van Veldhuisen, Department of Cardiology/Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Center, Groningen, Netherlands.
Based on the evaluation of the results of the phase II program and observational studies, Amgen has initiated a large scale phase III trial that will evaluate the effect of treatment of anemia with Aranesp on morbidity and mortality in patients with symptomatic heart failure.