Amgen's Aranesp misses in Phase III RED-HF trial

Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) said subcutaneous Aranesp darbepoetin alfa missed the primary endpoint in the Phase III RED-HF trial to treat anemia in heart failure patients. Aranesp did not significantly reduce the composite of time to death from any cause or first hospital admission for worsening heart failure vs. placebo (HR=1.01, 95% CI: 0.9, 1.13). The double-blind, international trial enrolled 2,278 patients with symptomatic systolic heart failure and anemia. Amgen, which declined to provide next steps in the indication, markets Aranesp for cancer and renal indications in the U.S. and EU. Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co. Ltd. (Tokyo:4151) has rights to the erythropoiesis stimulating protein from Amgen in Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan and Southeast Asia. ...