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Anemia impairs the quality of life in patients with chronic kidney disease. Erythropoietin is effective in raising hemoglobin level, but cardiovascular (CV) events and antibody formation are serious complications. Peginesatide is a long-acting peptide that stimulates the erythropoietin receptor, but whether it is a safe and effective means of raising hemoglobin is uncertain. Now, investigators have conducted two phase III, randomized, controlled, open-label trials — funded and collaboratively designed by the maker of peginesatide — to compare the agent with various forms of erythropoietin in cohorts of U.S. and European patients with advanced chronic kidney disease.
In the trial by Fishbane and colleagues, 1608 patients undergoing dialysis w…