Active Ingredient: Epoetin beta
Treatment of symptomatic anaemia associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in adult patients.
For this indication, competent medicine agencies globally authorize below treatments:
Intravenous
120 - 360 ug
From 120 To 360 ug once every 30 day(s)
Anaemia symptoms and sequelae may vary with age, gender, and overall burden of disease; a physician’s evaluation of the individual patient’s clinical course and condition is necessary. Epoetin beta should be administered either subcutaneously or intravenously in order to increase haemoglobin to not greater than 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l). Subcutaneous use is preferable in patients who are not receiving haemodialysis to avoid puncture of peripheral veins.
Due to intra-patient variability, occasional individual haemoglobin values for a patient above and below the desired haemoglobin level may be observed. Haemoglobin variability should be addressed through dose management, with consideration for the haemoglobin target range of 10 g/dl (6.21 mmol/l) to 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l). A sustained haemoglobin level of greater than 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l) should be avoided; guidance for appropriate dose adjustment for when haemoglobin values exceeding 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l) are observed are described below.
A rise in haemoglobin of greater than 2 g/dl (1.24 mmol/l) over a four-week period should be avoided. If it occurs, appropriate dose adjustment should be made as provided.
Patients should be monitored closely to ensure that the lowest approved effective dose of epoetin beta is used to provide adequate control of the symptoms of anaemia whilst maintaining a haemoglobin concentration below or at 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l).
Caution should be exercised with escalation of epoetin beta doses in patients with chronic renal failure. In patients with a poor haemoglobin response to epoetin beta, alternative explanations for the poor response should be considered.
It is recommended that haemoglobin is monitored every two weeks until stabilized and periodically thereafter.
In order to increase haemoglobin levels to greater than 10 g/dl (6.21 mmol/l), the recommended starting dose in patients not on dialysis is 1.2 microgram/kg body weight, administered once every month as a single subcutaneous injection.
Alternatively, a starting dose of 0.6 microgram/kg bodyweight may be administered once every two weeks as a single intravenous or subcutaneous injection in patients on dialysis or not on dialysis.
The dose may be increased by approximately 25% of the previous dose if the rate of rise in haemoglobin is less than 1.0 g/dl (0.621 mmol/l) over a month. Further increases of approximately 25% may be made at monthly intervals until the individual target haemoglobin level is obtained.
If the rate of rise in haemoglobin is greater than 2 g/dl (1.24 mmol/l) in one month or if the haemoglobin level is increasing and approaching 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l), the dose is to be reduced by approximately 25%. If the haemoglobin level continues to increase, therapy should be interrupted until the haemoglobin level begins to decrease, at which point therapy should be restarted at a dose approximately 25% below the previously administered dose. After dose interruption a haemoglobin decrease of approximately 0.35 g/dl (0.22 mmol/l) per week is expected. Dose adjustments should not be made more frequently than once a month.
Patients treated once every two weeks whose haemoglobin concentration is above 10 g/dl (6.21 mmol/l) may receive epoetin beta administered once-monthly using the dose equal to twice the previous once-every-two-week dose.
Patients currently treated with an ESA can be switched to epoetin beta administered once a month as a single intravenous or subcutaneous injection. The starting dose of epoetin beta is based on the calculated previous weekly dose of darbepoetin alfa or epoetin at the time of substitution as described in Table 1. The first injection should start at the next scheduled dose of the previously administered darbepoetin alfa or epoetin.
Table 1. Epoetin beta starting doses:
| Previous weekly darbepoetin alfa intravenous or subcutaneous dose (microgram/week) | Previous weekly epoetin intravenous or subcutaneous dose (IU/week) | Monthly epoetin beta intravenous or subcutaneous dose (microgram/once monthly) |
|---|---|---|
| <40 | <8,000 | 120 |
| 40-80 | 8,000-16,000 | 200 |
| >80 | >16,000 | 360 |
If a dose adjustment is required to maintain the target haemoglobin concentration above 10 g/dl (6.21 mmol/l), the monthly dose may be increased by approximately 25%.
If the rate of rise in haemoglobin is greater than 2 g/dl (1.24 mmol/l) over a month or if the haemoglobin level is increasing and approaching 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l), the dose is to be reduced by approximately 25%. If the haemoglobin level continues to increase, therapy should be interrupted until the haemoglobin level begins to decrease, at which point therapy should be restarted at a dose approximately 25% below the previously administered dose. After dose interruption a haemoglobin decrease of approximately 0.35 g/dl (0.22 mmol/l) per week is expected. Dose adjustments should not be made more frequently than once a month.
Since the treatment experience is limited in patients on peritoneal dialysis, regular haemoglobin monitoring and strict adherence to dose adjustment guidance are recommended in these patients.
Treatment with epoetin beta is normally long-term. However, it can be interrupted at any time, if necessary.
If one dose of epoetin beta is missed, the missed dose is to be administered as soon as possible and administration of epoetin beta is to be restarted at the prescribed dosing frequency.
Subcutaneous
120 - 360 ug
From 120 To 360 ug once every 30 day(s)
Anaemia symptoms and sequelae may vary with age, gender, and overall burden of disease; a physician’s evaluation of the individual patient’s clinical course and condition is necessary. Epoetin beta should be administered either subcutaneously or intravenously in order to increase haemoglobin to not greater than 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l). Subcutaneous use is preferable in patients who are not receiving haemodialysis to avoid puncture of peripheral veins.
Due to intra-patient variability, occasional individual haemoglobin values for a patient above and below the desired haemoglobin level may be observed. Haemoglobin variability should be addressed through dose management, with consideration for the haemoglobin target range of 10 g/dl (6.21 mmol/l) to 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l). A sustained haemoglobin level of greater than 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l) should be avoided; guidance for appropriate dose adjustment for when haemoglobin values exceeding 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l) are observed are described below.
A rise in haemoglobin of greater than 2 g/dl (1.24 mmol/l) over a four-week period should be avoided. If it occurs, appropriate dose adjustment should be made as provided.
Patients should be monitored closely to ensure that the lowest approved effective dose of epoetin beta is used to provide adequate control of the symptoms of anaemia whilst maintaining a haemoglobin concentration below or at 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l).
Caution should be exercised with escalation of epoetin beta doses in patients with chronic renal failure. In patients with a poor haemoglobin response to epoetin beta, alternative explanations for the poor response should be considered.
It is recommended that haemoglobin is monitored every two weeks until stabilized and periodically thereafter.
In order to increase haemoglobin levels to greater than 10 g/dl (6.21 mmol/l), the recommended starting dose in patients not on dialysis is 1.2 microgram/kg body weight, administered once every month as a single subcutaneous injection.
Alternatively, a starting dose of 0.6 microgram/kg bodyweight may be administered once every two weeks as a single intravenous or subcutaneous injection in patients on dialysis or not on dialysis.
The dose may be increased by approximately 25% of the previous dose if the rate of rise in haemoglobin is less than 1.0 g/dl (0.621 mmol/l) over a month. Further increases of approximately 25% may be made at monthly intervals until the individual target haemoglobin level is obtained.
If the rate of rise in haemoglobin is greater than 2 g/dl (1.24 mmol/l) in one month or if the haemoglobin level is increasing and approaching 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l), the dose is to be reduced by approximately 25%. If the haemoglobin level continues to increase, therapy should be interrupted until the haemoglobin level begins to decrease, at which point therapy should be restarted at a dose approximately 25% below the previously administered dose. After dose interruption a haemoglobin decrease of approximately 0.35 g/dl (0.22 mmol/l) per week is expected. Dose adjustments should not be made more frequently than once a month.
Patients treated once every two weeks whose haemoglobin concentration is above 10 g/dl (6.21 mmol/l) may receive epoetin beta administered once-monthly using the dose equal to twice the previous once-every-two-week dose.
Patients currently treated with an ESA can be switched to epoetin beta administered once a month as a single intravenous or subcutaneous injection. The starting dose of epoetin beta is based on the calculated previous weekly dose of darbepoetin alfa or epoetin at the time of substitution as described in Table 1. The first injection should start at the next scheduled dose of the previously administered darbepoetin alfa or epoetin.
Table 1. Epoetin beta starting doses:
| Previous weekly darbepoetin alfa intravenous or subcutaneous dose (microgram/week) | Previous weekly epoetin intravenous or subcutaneous dose (IU/week) | Monthly epoetin beta intravenous or subcutaneous dose (microgram/once monthly) |
|---|---|---|
| <40 | <8,000 | 120 |
| 40-80 | 8,000-16,000 | 200 |
| >80 | >16,000 | 360 |
If a dose adjustment is required to maintain the target haemoglobin concentration above 10 g/dl (6.21 mmol/l), the monthly dose may be increased by approximately 25%.
If the rate of rise in haemoglobin is greater than 2 g/dl (1.24 mmol/l) over a month or if the haemoglobin level is increasing and approaching 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l), the dose is to be reduced by approximately 25%. If the haemoglobin level continues to increase, therapy should be interrupted until the haemoglobin level begins to decrease, at which point therapy should be restarted at a dose approximately 25% below the previously administered dose. After dose interruption a haemoglobin decrease of approximately 0.35 g/dl (0.22 mmol/l) per week is expected. Dose adjustments should not be made more frequently than once a month.
Since the treatment experience is limited in patients on peritoneal dialysis, regular haemoglobin monitoring and strict adherence to dose adjustment guidance are recommended in these patients.
Treatment with epoetin beta is normally long-term. However, it can be interrupted at any time, if necessary.
If one dose of epoetin beta is missed, the missed dose is to be administered as soon as possible and administration of epoetin beta is to be restarted at the prescribed dosing frequency.
It can be injected subcutaneously in the abdomen, arm or thigh. All three injection sites are equally suitable.
Intravenous
1.2 - 1.2 ug per kg of body weight
From 1.2 To 1.2 ug per kg of body weight once every 30 day(s)
Anaemia symptoms and sequelae may vary with age, gender, and overall burden of disease; a physician’s evaluation of the individual patient’s clinical course and condition is necessary. Epoetin beta should be administered either subcutaneously or intravenously in order to increase haemoglobin to not greater than 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l). Subcutaneous use is preferable in patients who are not receiving haemodialysis to avoid puncture of peripheral veins.
Due to intra-patient variability, occasional individual haemoglobin values for a patient above and below the desired haemoglobin level may be observed. Haemoglobin variability should be addressed through dose management, with consideration for the haemoglobin target range of 10 g/dl (6.21 mmol/l) to 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l). A sustained haemoglobin level of greater than 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l) should be avoided; guidance for appropriate dose adjustment for when haemoglobin values exceeding 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l) are observed are described below.
A rise in haemoglobin of greater than 2 g/dl (1.24 mmol/l) over a four-week period should be avoided. If it occurs, appropriate dose adjustment should be made as provided.
Patients should be monitored closely to ensure that the lowest approved effective dose of epoetin beta is used to provide adequate control of the symptoms of anaemia whilst maintaining a haemoglobin concentration below or at 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l).
Caution should be exercised with escalation of epoetin beta doses in patients with chronic renal failure. In patients with a poor haemoglobin response to epoetin beta, alternative explanations for the poor response should be considered.
It is recommended that haemoglobin is monitored every two weeks until stabilized and periodically thereafter.
In order to increase haemoglobin levels to greater than 10 g/dl (6.21 mmol/l), the recommended starting dose in patients not on dialysis is 1.2 microgram/kg body weight, administered once every month as a single subcutaneous injection.
Alternatively, a starting dose of 0.6 microgram/kg bodyweight may be administered once every two weeks as a single intravenous or subcutaneous injection in patients on dialysis or not on dialysis.
The dose may be increased by approximately 25% of the previous dose if the rate of rise in haemoglobin is less than 1.0 g/dl (0.621 mmol/l) over a month. Further increases of approximately 25% may be made at monthly intervals until the individual target haemoglobin level is obtained.
If the rate of rise in haemoglobin is greater than 2 g/dl (1.24 mmol/l) in one month or if the haemoglobin level is increasing and approaching 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l), the dose is to be reduced by approximately 25%. If the haemoglobin level continues to increase, therapy should be interrupted until the haemoglobin level begins to decrease, at which point therapy should be restarted at a dose approximately 25% below the previously administered dose. After dose interruption a haemoglobin decrease of approximately 0.35 g/dl (0.22 mmol/l) per week is expected. Dose adjustments should not be made more frequently than once a month.
Patients treated once every two weeks whose haemoglobin concentration is above 10 g/dl (6.21 mmol/l) may receive epoetin beta administered once-monthly using the dose equal to twice the previous once-every-two-week dose.
Patients currently treated with an ESA can be switched to epoetin beta administered once a month as a single intravenous or subcutaneous injection. The starting dose of epoetin beta is based on the calculated previous weekly dose of darbepoetin alfa or epoetin at the time of substitution as described in Table 1. The first injection should start at the next scheduled dose of the previously administered darbepoetin alfa or epoetin.
Table 1. epoetin beta starting doses:
| Previous weekly darbepoetin alfa intravenous or subcutaneous dose (microgram/week) | Previous weekly epoetin intravenous or subcutaneous dose (IU/week) | Monthly epoetin beta intravenous or subcutaneous dose (microgram/once monthly) |
|---|---|---|
| <40 | <8,000 | 120 |
| 40-80 | 8,000-16,000 | 200 |
| >80 | >16,000 | 360 |
If a dose adjustment is required to maintain the target haemoglobin concentration above 10 g/dl (6.21 mmol/l), the monthly dose may be increased by approximately 25%.
If the rate of rise in haemoglobin is greater than 2 g/dl (1.24 mmol/l) over a month or if the haemoglobin level is increasing and approaching 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l), the dose is to be reduced by approximately 25%. If the haemoglobin level continues to increase, therapy should be interrupted until the haemoglobin level begins to decrease, at which point therapy should be restarted at a dose approximately 25% below the previously administered dose. After dose interruption a haemoglobin decrease of approximately 0.35 g/dl (0.22 mmol/l) per week is expected. Dose adjustments should not be made more frequently than once a month.
Since the treatment experience is limited in patients on peritoneal dialysis, regular haemoglobin monitoring and strict adherence to dose adjustment guidance are recommended in these patients.
Treatment with epoetin beta is normally long-term. However, it can be interrupted at any time, if necessary.
If one dose of epoetin beta is missed, the missed dose is to be administered as soon as possible and administration of epoetin beta is to be restarted at the prescribed dosing frequency.
Subcutaneous
1.2 - 1.2 ug per kg of body weight
From 1.2 To 1.2 ug per kg of body weight once every 30 day(s)
Anaemia symptoms and sequelae may vary with age, gender, and overall burden of disease; a physician’s evaluation of the individual patient’s clinical course and condition is necessary. Epoetin beta should be administered either subcutaneously or intravenously in order to increase haemoglobin to not greater than 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l). Subcutaneous use is preferable in patients who are not receiving haemodialysis to avoid puncture of peripheral veins.
Due to intra-patient variability, occasional individual haemoglobin values for a patient above and below the desired haemoglobin level may be observed. Haemoglobin variability should be addressed through dose management, with consideration for the haemoglobin target range of 10 g/dl (6.21 mmol/l) to 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l). A sustained haemoglobin level of greater than 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l) should be avoided; guidance for appropriate dose adjustment for when haemoglobin values exceeding 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l) are observed are described below.
A rise in haemoglobin of greater than 2 g/dl (1.24 mmol/l) over a four-week period should be avoided. If it occurs, appropriate dose adjustment should be made as provided.
Patients should be monitored closely to ensure that the lowest approved effective dose of epoetin beta is used to provide adequate control of the symptoms of anaemia whilst maintaining a haemoglobin concentration below or at 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l).
Caution should be exercised with escalation of epoetin beta doses in patients with chronic renal failure. In patients with a poor haemoglobin response to epoetin beta, alternative explanations for the poor response should be considered.
It is recommended that haemoglobin is monitored every two weeks until stabilized and periodically thereafter.
In order to increase haemoglobin levels to greater than 10 g/dl (6.21 mmol/l), the recommended starting dose in patients not on dialysis is 1.2 microgram/kg body weight, administered once every month as a single subcutaneous injection.
Alternatively, a starting dose of 0.6 microgram/kg bodyweight may be administered once every two weeks as a single intravenous or subcutaneous injection in patients on dialysis or not on dialysis.
The dose may be increased by approximately 25% of the previous dose if the rate of rise in haemoglobin is less than 1.0 g/dl (0.621 mmol/l) over a month. Further increases of approximately 25% may be made at monthly intervals until the individual target haemoglobin level is obtained.
If the rate of rise in haemoglobin is greater than 2 g/dl (1.24 mmol/l) in one month or if the haemoglobin level is increasing and approaching 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l), the dose is to be reduced by approximately 25%. If the haemoglobin level continues to increase, therapy should be interrupted until the haemoglobin level begins to decrease, at which point therapy should be restarted at a dose approximately 25% below the previously administered dose. After dose interruption a haemoglobin decrease of approximately 0.35 g/dl (0.22 mmol/l) per week is expected. Dose adjustments should not be made more frequently than once a month.
Patients treated once every two weeks whose haemoglobin concentration is above 10 g/dl (6.21 mmol/l) may receive epoetin beta administered once-monthly using the dose equal to twice the previous once-every-two-week dose.
Patients currently treated with an ESA can be switched to epoetin beta administered once a month as a single intravenous or subcutaneous injection. The starting dose of epoetin beta is based on the calculated previous weekly dose of darbepoetin alfa or epoetin at the time of substitution as described in Table 1. The first injection should start at the next scheduled dose of the previously administered darbepoetin alfa or epoetin.
Table 1. epoetin beta starting doses:
| Previous weekly darbepoetin alfa intravenous or subcutaneous dose (microgram/week) | Previous weekly epoetin intravenous or subcutaneous dose (IU/week) | Monthly epoetin beta intravenous or subcutaneous dose (microgram/once monthly) |
|---|---|---|
| <40 | <8,000 | 120 |
| 40-80 | 8,000-16,000 | 200 |
| >80 | >16,000 | 360 |
If a dose adjustment is required to maintain the target haemoglobin concentration above 10 g/dl (6.21 mmol/l), the monthly dose may be increased by approximately 25%.
If the rate of rise in haemoglobin is greater than 2 g/dl (1.24 mmol/l) over a month or if the haemoglobin level is increasing and approaching 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l), the dose is to be reduced by approximately 25%. If the haemoglobin level continues to increase, therapy should be interrupted until the haemoglobin level begins to decrease, at which point therapy should be restarted at a dose approximately 25% below the previously administered dose. After dose interruption a haemoglobin decrease of approximately 0.35 g/dl (0.22 mmol/l) per week is expected. Dose adjustments should not be made more frequently than once a month.
Since the treatment experience is limited in patients on peritoneal dialysis, regular haemoglobin monitoring and strict adherence to dose adjustment guidance are recommended in these patients.
Treatment with epoetin beta is normally long-term. However, it can be interrupted at any time, if necessary.
If one dose of epoetin beta is missed, the missed dose is to be administered as soon as possible and administration of epoetin beta is to be restarted at the prescribed dosing frequency.
It can be injected subcutaneously in the abdomen, arm or thigh. All three injection sites are equally suitable.
Intravenous
0.6 - 0.6 ug per kg of body weight
From 0.6 To 0.6 ug per kg of body weight once every 14 day(s)
Anaemia symptoms and sequelae may vary with age, gender, and overall burden of disease; a physician’s evaluation of the individual patient’s clinical course and condition is necessary. Epoetin beta should be administered either subcutaneously or intravenously in order to increase haemoglobin to not greater than 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l). Subcutaneous use is preferable in patients who are not receiving haemodialysis to avoid puncture of peripheral veins.
Due to intra-patient variability, occasional individual haemoglobin values for a patient above and below the desired haemoglobin level may be observed. Haemoglobin variability should be addressed through dose management, with consideration for the haemoglobin target range of 10 g/dl (6.21 mmol/l) to 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l). A sustained haemoglobin level of greater than 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l) should be avoided; guidance for appropriate dose adjustment for when haemoglobin values exceeding 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l) are observed are described below.
A rise in haemoglobin of greater than 2 g/dl (1.24 mmol/l) over a four-week period should be avoided. If it occurs, appropriate dose adjustment should be made as provided.
Patients should be monitored closely to ensure that the lowest approved effective dose of epoetin beta is used to provide adequate control of the symptoms of anaemia whilst maintaining a haemoglobin concentration below or at 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l).
Caution should be exercised with escalation of epoetin beta doses in patients with chronic renal failure. In patients with a poor haemoglobin response to epoetin beta, alternative explanations for the poor response should be considered.
It is recommended that haemoglobin is monitored every two weeks until stabilized and periodically thereafter.
In order to increase haemoglobin levels to greater than 10 g/dl (6.21 mmol/l), the recommended starting dose in patients not on dialysis is 1.2 microgram/kg body weight, administered once every month as a single subcutaneous injection.
Alternatively, a starting dose of 0.6 microgram/kg bodyweight may be administered once every two weeks as a single intravenous or subcutaneous injection in patients on dialysis or not on dialysis.
The dose may be increased by approximately 25% of the previous dose if the rate of rise in haemoglobin is less than 1.0 g/dl (0.621 mmol/l) over a month. Further increases of approximately 25% may be made at monthly intervals until the individual target haemoglobin level is obtained.
If the rate of rise in haemoglobin is greater than 2 g/dl (1.24 mmol/l) in one month or if the haemoglobin level is increasing and approaching 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l), the dose is to be reduced by approximately 25%. If the haemoglobin level continues to increase, therapy should be interrupted until the haemoglobin level begins to decrease, at which point therapy should be restarted at a dose approximately 25% below the previously administered dose. After dose interruption a haemoglobin decrease of approximately 0.35 g/dl (0.22 mmol/l) per week is expected. Dose adjustments should not be made more frequently than once a month.
Patients treated once every two weeks whose haemoglobin concentration is above 10 g/dl (6.21 mmol/l) may receive epoetin beta administered once-monthly using the dose equal to twice the previous once-every-two-week dose.
Patients currently treated with an ESA can be switched to epoetin beta administered once a month as a single intravenous or subcutaneous injection. The starting dose of epoetin beta is based on the calculated previous weekly dose of darbepoetin alfa or epoetin at the time of substitution as described in Table 1. The first injection should start at the next scheduled dose of the previously administered darbepoetin alfa or epoetin.
Table 1. epoetin beta starting doses:
| Previous weekly darbepoetin alfa intravenous or subcutaneous dose (microgram/week) | Previous weekly epoetin intravenous or subcutaneous dose (IU/week) | Monthly epoetin beta intravenous or subcutaneous dose (microgram/once monthly) |
|---|---|---|
| <40 | <8000 | 120 |
| 40-80 | 8000-16000 | 200 |
| >80 | >16000 | 360 |
If a dose adjustment is required to maintain the target haemoglobin concentration above 10 g/dl (6.21 mmol/l), the monthly dose may be increased by approximately 25%.
If the rate of rise in haemoglobin is greater than 2 g/dl (1.24 mmol/l) over a month or if the haemoglobin level is increasing and approaching 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l), the dose is to be reduced by approximately 25%. If the haemoglobin level continues to increase, therapy should be interrupted until the haemoglobin level begins to decrease, at which point therapy should be restarted at a dose approximately 25% below the previously administered dose. After dose interruption a haemoglobin decrease of approximately 0.35 g/dl (0.22 mmol/l) per week is expected. Dose adjustments should not be made more frequently than once a month.
Since the treatment experience is limited in patients on peritoneal dialysis, regular haemoglobin monitoring and strict adherence to dose adjustment guidance are recommended in these patients.
Treatment with epoetin beta is normally long-term. However, it can be interrupted at any time, if necessary.
If one dose of epoetin beta is missed, the missed dose is to be administered as soon as possible and administration of epoetin beta is to be restarted at the prescribed dosing frequency.
Subcutaneous
0.6 - 0.6 ug per kg of body weight
From 0.6 To 0.6 ug per kg of body weight once every 14 day(s)
Anaemia symptoms and sequelae may vary with age, gender, and overall burden of disease; a physician’s evaluation of the individual patient’s clinical course and condition is necessary. Epoetin beta should be administered either subcutaneously or intravenously in order to increase haemoglobin to not greater than 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l). Subcutaneous use is preferable in patients who are not receiving haemodialysis to avoid puncture of peripheral veins.
Due to intra-patient variability, occasional individual haemoglobin values for a patient above and below the desired haemoglobin level may be observed. Haemoglobin variability should be addressed through dose management, with consideration for the haemoglobin target range of 10 g/dl (6.21 mmol/l) to 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l). A sustained haemoglobin level of greater than 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l) should be avoided; guidance for appropriate dose adjustment for when haemoglobin values exceeding 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l) are observed are described below.
A rise in haemoglobin of greater than 2 g/dl (1.24 mmol/l) over a four-week period should be avoided. If it occurs, appropriate dose adjustment should be made as provided.
Patients should be monitored closely to ensure that the lowest approved effective dose of epoetin beta is used to provide adequate control of the symptoms of anaemia whilst maintaining a haemoglobin concentration below or at 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l).
Caution should be exercised with escalation of epoetin beta doses in patients with chronic renal failure. In patients with a poor haemoglobin response to epoetin beta, alternative explanations for the poor response should be considered.
It is recommended that haemoglobin is monitored every two weeks until stabilized and periodically thereafter.
In order to increase haemoglobin levels to greater than 10 g/dl (6.21 mmol/l), the recommended starting dose in patients not on dialysis is 1.2 microgram/kg body weight, administered once every month as a single subcutaneous injection.
Alternatively, a starting dose of 0.6 microgram/kg bodyweight may be administered once every two weeks as a single intravenous or subcutaneous injection in patients on dialysis or not on dialysis.
The dose may be increased by approximately 25% of the previous dose if the rate of rise in haemoglobin is less than 1.0 g/dl (0.621 mmol/l) over a month. Further increases of approximately 25% may be made at monthly intervals until the individual target haemoglobin level is obtained.
If the rate of rise in haemoglobin is greater than 2 g/dl (1.24 mmol/l) in one month or if the haemoglobin level is increasing and approaching 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l), the dose is to be reduced by approximately 25%. If the haemoglobin level continues to increase, therapy should be interrupted until the haemoglobin level begins to decrease, at which point therapy should be restarted at a dose approximately 25% below the previously administered dose. After dose interruption a haemoglobin decrease of approximately 0.35 g/dl (0.22 mmol/l) per week is expected. Dose adjustments should not be made more frequently than once a month.
Patients treated once every two weeks whose haemoglobin concentration is above 10 g/dl (6.21 mmol/l) may receive epoetin beta administered once-monthly using the dose equal to twice the previous once-every-two-week dose.
Patients currently treated with an ESA can be switched to epoetin beta administered once a month as a single intravenous or subcutaneous injection. The starting dose of epoetin beta is based on the calculated previous weekly dose of darbepoetin alfa or epoetin at the time of substitution as described in Table 1. The first injection should start at the next scheduled dose of the previously administered darbepoetin alfa or epoetin.
Table 1. epoetin beta starting doses:
| Previous weekly darbepoetin alfa intravenous or subcutaneous dose (microgram/week) | Previous weekly epoetin intravenous or subcutaneous dose (IU/week) | Monthly epoetin beta intravenous or subcutaneous dose (microgram/once monthly) |
|---|---|---|
| <40 | <8000 | 120 |
| 40-80 | 8000-16000 | 200 |
| >80 | >16000 | 360 |
If a dose adjustment is required to maintain the target haemoglobin concentration above 10 g/dl (6.21 mmol/l), the monthly dose may be increased by approximately 25%.
If the rate of rise in haemoglobin is greater than 2 g/dl (1.24 mmol/l) over a month or if the haemoglobin level is increasing and approaching 12 g/dl (7.45 mmol/l), the dose is to be reduced by approximately 25%. If the haemoglobin level continues to increase, therapy should be interrupted until the haemoglobin level begins to decrease, at which point therapy should be restarted at a dose approximately 25% below the previously administered dose. After dose interruption a haemoglobin decrease of approximately 0.35 g/dl (0.22 mmol/l) per week is expected. Dose adjustments should not be made more frequently than once a month.
Since the treatment experience is limited in patients on peritoneal dialysis, regular haemoglobin monitoring and strict adherence to dose adjustment guidance are recommended in these patients.
Treatment with epoetin beta is normally long-term. However, it can be interrupted at any time, if necessary.
If one dose of epoetin beta is missed, the missed dose is to be administered as soon as possible and administration of epoetin beta is to be restarted at the prescribed dosing frequency.
It can be injected subcutaneously in the abdomen, arm or thigh. All three injection sites are equally suitable.
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