An article published in Forbes discusses the findings of studies confirming that the anemia drug epoetin alfa (Amgen’s Eopgen and J&J’s Procrit) does not, in fact, decrease the need for blood transfusions. The anemia drug is made as a substitute for blood transfusions, as it is supposed to increase the body’s red blood cell level. However, studies by Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (NH) and Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine resulted in the following findings: “we didn’t reduce blood transfusions, although [epoetin alfa] still increased hemoglobin levels” and in “medical and surgical non-trauma patients, it did not improve survival.”

The studies consisted of 1,460 medical, surgical and trauma patients after 48-96 hours of being admitted to the ICU. Half of the patients received epoetin alfa, while the other half received a placebo, for three weeks and researchers followed their conditions for 140 days. In terms of blood transfusions, there was no difference in the number of blood transfusions needed among the group that received the placebo in comparison to the group that received the epoetin alfa, nor was there a difference in the number of red-cell units that were transfused.

The only difference was in the number of deaths: there were fewer deaths among trauma patients in the group that received the epoetin alfa, however, researchers are looking at other beneficial mechanisms as the cause of this than the stimulation of red blood cells. Researchers say that the drug has “other effects in addition to making blood cells” and they feel that one of these other affects is what is the cause of the decreased mortality rate among trauma patients.

[Study findings are published in the Sept. 6 New England Journal of Medicine]

Forbes: “Controversial Anemia Drug Doesn’t Cut Need for Transfusions”

Related Article:

“Results from Study Evaluating Procrit in Intensive Care Unit Patients Published in New England Journal of Medicine”

Reuters: “Blood-Buster Helps Critically Ill Patients: Study”