Abstract
AIM: Efepoetin alfa, a novel long-acting erythropoietin (EPO)-hybrid Fc fusion protein, represents a promising erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) for addressing anaemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. This Phase 3 trial was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of subcutaneous efepoetin alfa in comparison to subcutaneous methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta in stage 3 or 4 CKD patients. METHODS: A randomised, multicentre, open-label Phase 3 trial enrolled 391 CKD stage 3 or stage 4 patients. Subjects underwent a 20-week correction period followed by an 8-week evaluation period. Responders continued treatment for an extra 24-week extension to evaluate long-term safety, maintenance effectiveness, and the longer treatment interval. RESULTS: In the efepoetin alfa Q2W (every 2 weeks) group, the response rate was 75.6%; while in the methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta Q2W group, the response rate was 69.3%. The difference in the response rate was 6.3% with 95% CI (confidence interval) -3.1% to 15.5%. The lower limit of the 95% CI was above the prespecified non-inferiority margin of -9.0%. Adverse event rates were comparable between the treatment groups. CONCLUSION: Efepoetin alfa demonstrated non-inferiority to methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta in correcting anaemia and maintaining haemoglobin (Hb) levels among stage 3 and 4 CKD patients. Moreover, the safety profile of efepoetin alfa was comparable to methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta.