Food and Drug Administration approved methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta (Mircera, Vifor Pharma Inc.) for the treatment of pediatric patients 5 to 17 years of age on hemodialysis who are converting from another ESA after their hemoglobin level was stabilized with an ESA.
Approval was based on data from an open-label, multiple dose, multicenter, dose-finding trial (NCT00717366) in 64 pediatric patients (ages 5 to 17 years) with CKD on hemodialysis and had stable hemoglobin (Hb) levels while previously receiving another ESA (epoetin alfa/beta or darbepoetin alfa). Patients were administered Mircera intravenously once every 4 weeks for 20 weeks. After the first administration of Mircera, dosage adjustments were permitted to maintain target Hb levels.
Efficacy was based on maintaining Hb levels within target levels in the above clinical trial, and also from extrapolation from trials of Mircera in adult patients with CKD. The safety findings observed in pediatric patients were consistent with those previously reported in adults.
For conversion from another ESA, Mircera is dosed intravenously once every 4 weeks based on total weekly epoetin alfa or darbepoetin alfa dose at time of conversion. Full prescribing information is available at Mircera PI.
