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


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Tzekova
Valentina
V
Queen Joanna University Hospital, Sofia, Bulgaria.
Mihaylov
Georgi
G
Elezovic
Ivo
I
Koytchev
Rossen
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006397:Hematinics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D006397:Hematinics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C530192:epoetin zeta; D004921:Erythropoietin