Maintenance Treatment of Anemia Associated With Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in Hemodialysis Subjects on Epoetin Alfa / Beta Treatment Versus BAY85-3934 (DIALOGUE4)

Inclusion Criteria:

• - Eligible subjects will have a diagnosis of anemia associated with CKD(chronic kidney disease).
• Women without childbearing potential
• Male or female subject ≥ 18 years of age with anemia of CKD at screening
• On dialysis, defined as regular long-term hemodialysis, with the same modality of dialysis for ≥ 3 months before randomization
• Dialysis vascular access via native arteriovenous fistula, synthetic graft, long-term catheters, or long-term tunneled catheters
• Treated with epoetin alfa (US or Japan) or epoetin beta (Japan) via intravenous (IV) or subcutaneous (SC) route, on stable dosing defined as a < 50% change from the maximum prescribed weekly dose with no change in the prescribed frequency during the last 8 weeks prior to randomization
• At least one kidney
• Mean screening Hb concentration 9.0 to 11.5 g/dL inclusive (mean of all local laboratory Hb measurements [at least 2 measurements must be taken ≥ 2 days apart] during the 4 week screening period, AND none of the measurements can be < 9.0 g/dL or > 12.0 g /dL
• Serum ferritin levels ≥ 100 μg/L OR transferrin saturation ≥ 20% at screening. Iron substitution is allowed
• Folate and vitamin B12 levels above the lower limit of normal. Supplementation is allowed
• Exclusion Criteria:
• Subjects with significant acute or chronic bleeding, such as overt gastrointestinal bleeding
• Hereditary hemoglobinopathies (including, but not limited to, sickle cell disease, beta thalassemia, and thalassemia major) which may be the primary cause of anemia
• Chronic lymphoproliferative diseases
• Any allograft (including renal allograft) in place and on immunosuppressive therapy, or a scheduled kidney transplant within the next 16 weeks (being on a waiting list does not exclude the subject)
• Chronic inflammatory disease that could impact erythropoiesis (e.g., systemic lupus erythematosis, rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease)
• Subjects treated with immuno- or myelosuppressive therapy within 8 weeks prior to randomization: e.g., everolimus, sirolimus, rituximab, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, mycophenolic acid, cyclosporine,methotrexate, and tacrolimus, chemotherapeutic agents and other anticancer agents, and systemic steroids (except inhaled steroids) for 7 days
• RBC-containing transfusion within 8 weeks before randomization
• History of cardio- (cerebro-) vascular events (e.g., unstable angina, myocardial infarction, stroke, transient ischemic attack, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism) within the last 6 months from the initial screening visit
• Sustained, poorly controlled arterial hypertension or hypotension at screening, defined as a mean BP ≥ 180/110 mmHg or systolic BP < 95 mmHg, respectively
• Severe rhythm or conduction disorder (e.g., HR < 50 or > 110 bpm, atrial flutter, prolonged QT >500 msec, second or third degree atrioventricular [AV]block if not treated with a pacemaker)
• New York Heart Association Class III or IV congestive heart failure
• Severe hepatic insufficiency (defined as alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST], or gamma-glutamyl transferase > 3 times the upper limit of normal [ULN], total bilirubin > 2 mg/dL, or Child-Pugh B or C) or active hepatitis in the investigator's opinion
• A scheduled surgery that may be expected to lead to significant blood loss