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 darbepoetin alfa |
| Aranesp |
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Pharmaceutical
company:
Amgen, Inc.
www.amgen.com |
NEW WARNING
Amgen issued a Dear Health Care Professional letter about the use of their human erythropoietin factor, darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp). Recent studies showed that darbepoetin alfa wasn't effective in reducing the need for blood transfusions or in decreasing fatigue in cancer patients whose anemia wasn't caused by chemotherapy. The patients in the treatment group were also shown to have a higher mortality. Amgen reminds health care professionals that darbepoetin alfa is approved for anemia caused by antineoplastic chemotherapy and anemia associated with chronic renal failure. They suggest that the drug be used only for those indications.
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