title: Investigation of the efficacy of a biogeneric recombinant human erythropoietin alfa in the correction of post-transplantation anemia: a randomized comparative trial with Eprex.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recombinant human erythropoietin is the cornerstone of therapy for anemia associated with chronic kidney disease or renal transplantation. However, it is not affordable and available for all patients. The present randomized double-blind trial compared the efficacy and safety of a biogeneric erythropoietin, Epolyrec, with the original product, Eprex, in correcting post-transplantation anemia (PTA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty patients who had undergone kidney transplantation surgery and had a hemoglobin level of < 11 g/L and a hematocrit of < 30% were recruited. These patients were randomly assigned to Epolyrec (n = 25) or Eprex (n = 25) at a dosage of 80 - 120 IU/kg body weight, three times/week. Patients were followed-up for two months unless they achieved the target levels for hemoglobin (1 g/L increase compared to baseline) and hematocrit (2 - 3% increase compared to baseline). Hemoglobin, hematocrit, and complete blood count with differential (CBC/DIFF) were evaluated at baseline and at months 1 and 2 of study. Other biochemical parameters were assessed at baseline and at the end of trial.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum hemoglobin and hematocrit progressively increased from baseline to month 2 in both Epolyrec (p = 0.001) and Eprex (p < 0.001) groups, with no significant difference between the groups (p > 0.05). Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and platelet count showed a significant increase during the course of the trial in both Epolyrec (p = 0.041 and 0.004 for MCH and platelet count, respectively) and Eprex (p = 0.036 and 0.003) groups. However, no significant change was observed between the groups regarding erythrocyte count, mean corpuscular volume, white blood cell count or reticulocyte count from baseline to the end of trial in any of the groups (p > 0.05). The incidence of adverse events were generally low in both groups and without any significant difference between Epolyrec and Eprex (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Epolyrec was equivalent to Eprex with respect to efficacy and safety. Hence, Epolyrec could represent a much more affordable and available biogeneric alternative to Eprex in correcting PTA.
authors.affiliation: Nephrology and Urology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Beiraghdar
authors.forename: Yunes
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Panahi
authors.forename: Behzad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Einollahi
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torkaman
authors.forename: Romina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.forename: Eisa Tahmasbpour
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Marzony
authors.forename: Amirhossein
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sahebkar
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D016568:Drugs, Generic; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D016568:Drugs, Generic; D006454:Hemoglobins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D007501:Iron; D003402:Creatine Kinase