A Novel Erythropoietin Receptor Agonist for Red Cell Aplasia

Anemia resulting from impaired erythropoietin production in chronic renal failure usually can be corrected with exogenous recombinant erythropoietin. However, patients who develop antierythropoietin antibodies following erythropoietin therapy become refractory to this treatment. Such antibodies destroy marrow erythroid precursors, inducing red cell aplasia and transfusion-dependent anemia.

To address this problem, investigators developed a peptide-based erythropoietin-receptor agonist that was evaluated in an industry-sponsored, open-label phase II trial. Fourteen patients who had renal failure, antierythropoietin antibodies, and bone marrow–confirmed red cell aplasia or hypoplasia (all required transfusion or had hemoglobin levels consisten…