Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) develop anemia due to reduced erythropoietin production by the kidney. Correction of anemia has been shown to improve exercise capacity, cognition, quality of life and may slow disease progression.~The primary objective of this study is to compare the change in hemoglobin (Hb) that occurs from study start to the end of the study in pre-dialysis patients with anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD) who are receiving PROCRIT (epoetin alfa) once every two weeks (Q2W) and once every four weeks (Q4W). This study will enroll 259 patients who will be randomly assigned (assigned to a treatment group by chance) to receive epoetin alfa subcutaneously (SC, under the skin) at one of four doses.~This study will have a Screening Phase of up to one week when patients will be evaluated for study eligibility followed by an open-label Treatment Phase of 16 weeks when patients will be randomly assigned to receive epoetin alfa administered under the skin at one of four dosing regimens. Patients will then complete a Post-Treatment Follow-Up Phase of 1 week (Week 17). Hemoglobin will be measured weekly. There will be no dose adjustments during the initial 4 weeks of the study, however, the dose may be withheld during this time if necessary. Further dose increases may occur at 4-week intervals and dose reductions may occur as frequently as the dosing interval assigned at randomization.~Patients will be eligible for epoetin alfa dose adjustments starting at the Week 5 visit if Hb is > 12 g/dL or Hb increases too rapidly (e.g., >1.0 g/dL in the last one or two consecutive weeks). The last dose of epoetin alfa administered for any treatment group will coincide with the dosing frequency assigned to that group. Epoetin alfa will not be administered later than Week 16 for any treatment group.~Hematology, serum chemistry, and iron status will be assessed at intervals throughout the study. The number of units of blood transfused, pre-transfusion Hb level, and the reasons for transfusion will be collected. Clinical laboratory results, vital signs, and the incidence and severity of adverse events will be assessed and monitored during the study.~Protocol Addendum: An Open-Label Extension of PROCRIT (Epoetin alfa) Maintenance Therapy Administered Every Six Weeks (Q6W) for the Treatment of Anemia of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). The Main Protocol, as described above, was designed to evaluate whether patients with anemia of CKD could be started on epoetin alfa therapy at one of four dosing regimens: 10,000 U once every week, 20,000 U every two weeks, 20,000 U every 4 weeks, or 40,000 U every four weeks. As an addendum to the Main Protocol, up to sixty (60) patients completing the original protocol with a hemoglobin (Hb) between 11 and 12 g/dL will be given an opportunity to enroll in an open-label extension study that will begin at the end of the Main Protocol timeline (Week 17). The primary objective of this open-label extension is to evaluate if epoetin alfa 40,000 U given SC every six weeks (Q6W), can maintain Hb within the range of 11-12 g/dL in patients with anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD).~This open-label extension will have a Screening Phase of up to one week (during Week 17) when patients will be evaluated for eligibility, an Open-Label Treatment Phase of 12 weeks duration (Weeks 18-Week 30), and a Post-Treatment Follow-Up Phase of 6 weeks (ending at Week 36 or 6 weeks from the date of the last dose of epoetin alfa). All patients will receive a first dose of epoetin alfa 40,000 U SC every 6 weeks beginning with Week 18, a second dose at Week 24, and a third and final dose at Week 30. During the Treatment Phase, Hb will be measured weekly. Dosing will not be increased during the open-label extension. A six-week follow-up period is required after administration of the Week 30 dose for those patients receiving all 3 doses. If Hb falls below 10 g/dL at any time or if the patient requires a red blood cell (RBC) transfusion, the patient will be withdrawn from the open-label extension, and the Post-Treatment Follow-Up Phase will occur 6 weeks later.~Hematology, serum chemistry, and iron status will be assessed at intervals throughout the study. The number of units of blood transfused, pre-transfusion Hb level, and the reasons for transfusion will be collected. Clinical laboratory results, vital signs, and the incidence and severity of adverse events will be assessed and monitored during the study. Patients will receive epoetin alfa under the skin (SC) at a dose of 10,000 units (U) every week, 20,000 U every 2 weeks, 20,000 U every 4 weeks or 40,000 U every 4 weeks for 16 weeks. Protocol Addendum: Patients will receive epoetin alfa 40,000 U every 6 weeks over 12 weeks.
The primary objective of this study is to compare the change in hemoglobin (Hb) from study start to the end of the study between the every 2 week and the every 4 week dosing regimens in patients with anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD) initiated on PROCRIT (epoetin alfa). Protocol Addendum: The primary objective of the open-label extension portion of this study is to evaluate if epoetin alfa 40,000 Units given under the skin every six weeks, can maintain hemoglobin within the range of 11-12 g/dL in patients with anemia of CKD.