Amgen Inc. to present the benefits and risks of Erythropoiesis-stimulating Agents

Amgen Inc. to present the benefits and risks of Erythropoiesis-stimulating Agents (ESAs) in cancer patients with anemia due to concomitantly administered chemotherapy at a meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC). ESAs provide these patients with the only therapeutic alternative to red blood cell (RBC) transfusions, which have known and uncertain risks. ESA Treatment Benefits: ESAs provide the only therapeutic alternative to RBC transfusions in cancer patients with anemia due to concomitantly administered chemotherapy. In well-controlled clinical trials, ESAs have been proven to reduce RBC transfusions in patients with anemia receiving chemotherapy. If ESAs were not available, data from Amgen's placebo-controlled clinical trials suggest that twice as many patients receiving chemotherapy would require RBC transfusions.