MIRACLE Study: A Study of Once-Monthly Intravenous Mircera in Hemodialysis Participants With Chronic Renal Anemia

Reference Hb was determined individually per participant as the average of all Hb values during a pre-treatment stability assessment (Weeks -4 to 0). During the EEP (Weeks 18 to 24), participants provided a total of four pre-dose blood samples for Hb monitoring while on treatment with Mircera/CERA. Sampling was also performed prior to each dialysis session. The average Hb during the EEP was calculated per participant and assessed against the reference value. The percentage of participants who had average Hb during the EEP in the country-specific target range (11.0 to 13.0 g/dL in Switzerland and 10.0 to 12.0 g/dL in Austria) and within ±1 g/dL of their individual reference Hb was determined as the primary endpoint. The 95 percent (%) confidence interval (CI) was calculated using the Pearson-Clopper method for exact confidence bounds.

Reference Hb was determined individually per participant as the average of all Hb values during a pre-treatment stability assessment (Weeks -4 to 0). During the EEP (Weeks 18 to 24), participants provided a total of four pre-dose blood samples for Hb monitoring while on treatment with Mircera/CERA. Sampling was also performed prior to each dialysis session. The average Hb during the EEP was calculated per participant and assessed against the reference value. The mean change in Hb value between reference (i.e., "Baseline") Hb and the EEP average Hb was calculated and expressed in g/dL.

During the LTSP (Weeks 18 to 52), participants provided a total of 16 pre-dose blood samples for Hb monitoring while on treatment with Mircera/CERA. Sampling was also performed prior to each dialysis session. Time spent in the country-specific target range (11.0 to 13.0 g/dL in Switzerland and 10.0 to 12.0 g/dL in Austria) was defined as time from first on-target Hb to time of last known on-target Hb, as collected during the EEP. Time spent in the target range was averaged among all participants and expressed in days.

During the EEP (Weeks 18 to 24), participants provided a total of four pre-dose blood samples for Hb monitoring while on treatment with Mircera/CERA. Sampling was also performed prior to each dialysis session. The percentage of participants who had average Hb during the EEP in the country-specific target range (11.0 to 13.0 g/dL in Switzerland and 10.0 to 12.0 g/dL in Austria) was determined. The 95% CI was calculated using the Pearson-Clopper method for exact confidence bounds.

During the LTSP (Weeks 18 to 52), participants provided a total of 16 pre-dose blood samples for Hb monitoring while on treatment with Mircera/CERA. Sampling was also performed prior to each dialysis session. The percentage of all Hb values outside of the country-specific target range was determined and reported separately as Hb values above the upper bound (13.0 g/dL in Switzerland and 12.0 g/dL in Austria) and Hb values below the lower bound (11.0 g/dL in Switzerland and 10.0 g/dL in Austria).

During the LTSP (Weeks 18 to 52), participants provided a total of 16 pre-dose blood samples for Hb monitoring while on treatment with Mircera/CERA. Sampling was also performed prior to each dialysis session. Time spent outside the country-specific target range was defined as time from each off-target Hb to time of next on-target Hb, as collected during the LTSP. Time spent outside the target range was averaged among all participants and expressed in days, reported separately as time spent above the upper bound (13.0 g/dL in Switzerland and 12.0 g/dL in Austria) and time spent below the lower bound (11.0 g/dL in Switzerland and 10.0 g/dL in Austria).

During the LTSP (Weeks 18 to 52), participants provided a total of 16 pre-dose blood samples for Hb monitoring while on treatment with Mircera/CERA. Sampling was also performed prior to each dialysis session. Deviation from the country-specific target range was calculated as [Hb value minus country-specific upper bound] for deviations above the target range and [Hb value minus country-specific lower bound] for deviations below the target range. Deviations were averaged among all Hb values from all participants and expressed in g/dL, reported separately as mean deviation above the upper bound (13.0 g/dL in Switzerland and 12.0 g/dL in Austria) and mean deviation below the lower bound (11.0 g/dL in Switzerland and 10.0 g/dL in Austria).

Study drug administration occurred monthly during the DTP (Weeks 0 to 16), which began with a pre-specified dose of Mircera/CERA according to the dose of ESA administered during Week -1. Subsequent doses could be adjusted throughout the study including during the LTSP (Weeks 18 to 52) on the basis of Hb levels or other modification criteria. The mean number of months required for dose adjustment for any reason was calculated and averaged among all participants during the DTP and LTSP.

Study drug administration occurred monthly during the DTP (Weeks 0 to 16), which began with a pre-specified dose of Mircera/CERA according to the dose of ESA administered during Week -1. Subsequent doses could be adjusted throughout the study including during the LTSP (Weeks 18 to 52) on the basis of Hb levels or other modification criteria. The dose received at each administration visit was averaged among all participants during the DTP and LTSP and expressed in mcg.

The number of participants who received blood transfusion during the DTP (Weeks 0 and 16) and LTSP (Weeks 18 to 52) was reported.