AMGEN TO BEGIN ARANESP STUDY

Amgen will initiate a Phase III, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicenter, multinational trial to evaluate the effect of anemia treatment with darbepoetin alfa (aranesp) on morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure.

Aranesp is a recombinant erythropoietic protein (a protein that stimulates production of oxygen-carrying red blood cells). It contains two additional sialic acid-containing carbohydrate chains than the Epoetin alfa molecule, resulting in more activity, with the added benefit of less-frequent administration.