A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Multicenter Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Darbepoetin Alfa Treatment on Mortality and Morbidity in Heart Failure (HF) Subjects With Symptomatic Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction and Anemia

Several epidemiological studies have demonstrated an association between HF and anemia and correlation of increased risk for mortality and hospitalization with low hemoglobin in patients with HF. Earlier single-center interventional studies suggest that meaningful clinical benefits may be achieved by raising hemoglobin concentration in patients with symptomatic HF and anemia. Data from Amgen's completed phase 2 multi-center studies support this hypothesis and show that darbepoetin alfa is well tolerated in patients with symptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction and anemia and effectively raises hemoglobin. The pivotal phase 3 Study 20050222 RED-HF Trial is evaluating the effect of treatment with darbepoetin alfa on the composite risk of all-cause mortality or hospitalization for worsening HF in patients with symptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction and anemia. This study also evaluates the effect of darbepoetin alfa treatment on all-cause death, on cardiovascular death or hospitalization for worsening HF, and on patient-reported quality-of-life outcomes.