Fractionated Dosing Study: Study to Evaluate Darbepoetin Alfa for the Treatment of Anemia in Subjects With Non-Myeloid Malignancies

The purpose of this study is to characterize the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) of darbepoetin alfa administered at a subcutaneous (SC) dose of 0.45 mcg/kg three times weekly (TIW) in anemic patients with non-myeloid malignancies receiving multicycle chemotherapy.

• Non-Myeloid Malignancies
• Anemia
• Cancer

Inclusion Criteria:

• Non-myeloid malignancy
• Currently receiving 3-week cyclic chemotherapy treatment with a minimum of 2 additional cycles of chemotherapy planned at the time of enrollment
• Anemia predominately due to cancer or chemotherapy (Hb >= 9.0 and < 11.0 g/dL) at the time of screening
• 18 years of age or older at the time of screening
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score 0-2
• Adequate liver and kidney function Exclusion Criteria:
• Known primary hematologic disorder, which could cause anemia, other than non-myeloid malignancies
• History of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), hairy cell leukemia, Burkitt's lymphoma, or lymphoblastic lymphoma
• Serum folate <= 2.0 ng/mL or vitamin B12 <= 200 pg/mL at screening (anemia related to nutritional deficiencies)
• Iron deficiency [transferrin saturation (TSAT) < 15% and serum ferritin < 10 ng/mL] at screening
• Other diagnoses not related to cancer or chemotherapy, which cause anemia (ie, hemolysis, bleeding, sickle cell anemia)
• Clinically significant inflammatory disease as determined by the investigator (eg, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease)
• Clinically significant co-morbid medical or psychiatric conditions that may impact subject safety or confound the ability to evaluate study endpoint as determined by the investigator
• Unstable or uncontrolled cardiac disease or condition (ie, angina, congestive heart failure, or cardiac arrhythmia)
• Diastolic blood pressure > 100 mmHg at screening
• Known hypersensitivity of erythropoietic-stimulating proteins (ESPs) or any excipients
• Known history of pure red cell aplasia
• Known positive antibody response to an ESP
• Use of investigational agents not approved or any indication during the previous 30 days prior to enrollment
• ESP therapy (i.e., recombinant human erythropoietin [rHuEPO] or darbepoetin alfa) within 21 days prior to screening or between screening and the first dose of study drug
• RBC transfusion(s) within 21 days prior to screening
• Pregnant or breast-feeding women - Previously enrolled in this study
• Known to be HIV, hepatitis B or C positive
• Any disorder that would compromise the ability of the subject to give written informed consent and comply with study requirements and procedures