Therapeutic effects of epoetin zeta in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced anaemia.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To perform an open, non-controlled, multiple-dose, international, multicentre, phase III study to evaluate epoetin zeta, a biosimilar epoetin referenced to epoetin alfa, for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced anaemia in patients with cancer.

METHODS:

Safety, tolerability and efficacy of subcutaneously administered epoetin zeta were assessed in 216 patients with solid tumours or non-myeloid haematological malignancies receiving chemotherapy and at risk of transfusion.

RESULTS:

A significant (p < 0.0001) increase in mean haemoglobin (Hb) level (1.8 g/dL) was observed between baseline and week 12 (intent-to-treat population); 176/216 (81.5%) patients achieved a response (increase in Hb > or = 1 g/dL or reticulocyte count > or = 40,000 cells/microL) by week 8. Over the treatment period, 231 treatment-emergent adverse events were experienced by 91 patients; 9/216 (4.2%) experienced a clinically significant thrombotic event within the first 12 weeks of epoetin zeta treatment, significantly lower than the assumed 18% baseline incidence (p < 0.0001) based on historical data from epoetin trials. No transfusion was necessary for 175/216 patients (81.0%) and quality of life improved over the study. No patients developed anti-erythropoietin antibodies. Sponsor trial no: CT-830-05-0009.

CONCLUSION:

This study demonstrates that subcutaneously administered epoetin zeta is well-tolerated and has efficacy in the treatment of anaemia in patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy and at risk of transfusion.

• Authors: Valentina Tzekova, Georgi Mihaylov, Ivo Elezovic, Rossen Koytchev, Epoetin Zeta Oncology Study Group
• Journal: Current medical research and opinion (Curr Med Res Opin) Vol. 25 Issue 7 Pg. 1689-97 (Jul 2009) ISSN: 1473-4877 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19505200 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Phase III, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Hematinics
• Recombinant Proteins
• epoetin zeta
• Erythropoietin

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Algorithms
• Anemia (chemically induced, drug therapy)
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Erythropoietin (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Female
• Hematinics (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Recombinant Proteins
• Treatment Outcome
• Young Adult