BackgroundDarbepoetin alfa (DA-α) is a long-acting erythropoiesis-stimulating glycoprotein which has half-life three-fold longer than that of Erythropoietin alfa (EPO). The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of DA-α injection versus EPO for treating renal anemia amongst Indian patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing dialysis.MethodsPatients of either gender (aged 18–65 years) with ESRD undergoing dialysis who had hemoglobin (Hb) levels < 10 g/dL after receiving EPO were switched to DA-α (0.45 μg/kg) once weekly subcutaneously or EPO 50 IU/kg thrice weekly subcutaneously (centrally randomized 1:1) for 12–24 weeks (correction phase) followed by 12 weeks maintenance phase (for Hb levels ≥10 g/dL). The primary efficacy endpoint was mean change in Hb level from baseline to end of correction phase.ResultsIn the intention-to-treat population (n = 126), the between group difference in mean Hb change was − 0.01 g/dL (95% CI – 0.68 to − 0.66, p = 0.97). After adjusting for covariates, the difference was − 0.2878 g/dL (95% CI -0.936 to0.360). The lower limit of the two-sided 95% CI of primary endpoint was above the pre-specified non-inferiority margin of − 1.0 g/dL. Similar trend of non-inferiority was observed for per-protocol population. Safety profile of DA-α and EPO were observed to be similar.ConclusionOur study results demonstrated that for patients with ESRD undergoing dialysis, administering DA-α at lower dose frequency, is equally effective and well tolerated as EPO for treating renal anemia.Trial registrationCTRI/2012/07/002835 [Registered on: 27/07/2012]; Trial Registered Prospectively.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12882-019-1209-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Background Our study aimed to compare efficacy and safety of Hetero’s adalimumab (Mabura®, Hetero Biopharma Limited) versus reference adalimumab (Humira®, Abbvie Inc.) in Indian patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) concomitant on methotrexate (MTX) therapy. Methods Patients (n = 168) were randomized (2:1) to receive either test or reference product for 24 weeks with concomitant MTX. Proportion of patients achieving American College of Rheumatology 20 (ACR20) criteria at week 12 was the primary endpoint. Changes in Disease Activity Score of 28 joints–C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP), Health Assessment Questionnaire–Disability Index (HAQ-DI), and patients achieving ACR20 at week 24, ACR50/70 at weeks 12 and 24 were secondary endpoints. Results Patients achieving ACR20 responses with test (96.43%) were similar to reference (96.43%) in intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis at week 12. Proportional difference (PD) between groups (PD [95% CI] 0.0 [− 6.0, 6.0], p = 1.000) for ACR20 at week 12 for ITT analysis showed lower limit of the two-sided 95% CI was above the pre-specified noninferiority margin of − 15%. Similar trend in PP analysis (PD [95% CI] 0.0 [− 0.03, 0.07], p = 1.000), confirmed therapeutic equivalence. No significant difference was noted between arms for patients attaining ACR20 at week 24 and ACR50/70 at weeks 12 and 24 (all p > 0.05). DAS28-CRP and HAQ-DI were similar between groups. Total of 54 patients reported 88 AEs during the study. Out of these, 60 AEs were reported in 34 patients with Hetero-Adalimumab and 28 AEs were reported in 20 patients with Reference-Adalimumab. Total two patients, one in each group reported two serious adverse events (Sinusitis and Viral infection) during the study and resolved completely. No deaths and no life threatening AEs were reported. Conclusion Results demonstrated Hetero’s adalimumab is as effective and well tolerated as reference adalimumab in patients with active RA concomitantly on MTX therapy. Trial registration CTRI/2016/04/006884, Registered on 28/04/2016.

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors reported errors in the presentation of Tables 2, 4 and 5.

BackgroundThis post-marketing surveillance (PMS), observational, prospective, safety study evaluated the safety, tolerability, and long-term immunogenicity of prescribed usage of Darbepoetin alfa (DA-α, manufactured by Hetero Biopharma, Hyderabad, India) in Indian patients having chronic kidney disease (CKD) with anemia. MethodsAll patients having chronic kidney disease with anemia and prescribed Hetero-Darbepoetin were the target patient population. The present study gathered the data from 503 Hetero-Darbepoetin alfa prescribed patients. This study collected information of patient demography, patient's medical history, concomitant medications, action taken with respect to Hetero-Darbepoetin-alfa, adverse events details (AE term, start date, stop date, severity, action taken, outcome, and causality), periodic hemoglobin (Hb) levels, and abnormal laboratory tests results until treatment is discontinued or the patient is lost to follow-up. Immunogenicity data were collected in 121 patients at the end of treatment and after one year. ResultsEighty-seven AEs were reported in this study and most of them were mild to moderate in intensity. No deaths or serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported in this study. Anti-drug antibodies were not detected in any subject at the end of the treatment phase and after 12 months long-term follow-up period. The baseline mean hemoglobin value was 8.34 (SD 1.24) g/dL and the last visit mean hemoglobin value was 10.42 ± 1.24 (mean ± SD) g/dL. The mean difference between baseline and last visit in hemoglobin value was 2.10 [2.00, 2.20], statistically significant (p-value <0.0001). ConclusionsThe safety and tolerability of the usage of DA-α are similar to that reported in the published literature of the innovator. No patients showed anti-drug antibodies after treatment. Additionally, the patients also showed significant improvement in hemoglobin levels, compared to baseline.

Objective: To compare the antitumor efficacy, safety, and pharmacodynamic (PD) characteristics of Hetero-rituximab (test) with reference medicinal product (rituximab, Roche) in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Patients and Methods: One hundred and thirty-five patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) were randomized to receive intravenous infusion of either test or reference product. Efficacy (best overall response [BOR] rate [primary end point]), safety, PD (CD19), and immunological assessments (secondary end points) were done at the end of cycle 3 and cycle 6. Results: : At the end of 6 cycles, BOR rate was 73.47% in Hetero-rituximab test arm compared to the 69.09% in reference arm. Anti-rituximab antibodies were found to be negative at cycle 3 and cycle 6 for all patients. Patients treated with Hetero-rituximab show a significant depletion in CD19+ cell which was comparable with reference drug. Safety and immunogenic potential of the test drug was comparable to the reference drug in the patients of DLBCL. Conclusion: BOR rate at cycle 3, cycle 6, and end of the study lies within the prespecified limit for noninferiority which concludes that test product is therapeutically noninferior to reference medicinal product.