A Study of Intravenous Mircera (C.E.R.A or Methoxy Polyethylene Glycol-epoetin Beta) for the Maintenance Treatment of Hemodialysis Participants With Chronic Renal Anemia

An Open Label Randomised Controlled Study to Compare the Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of Once-monthly Administration of Intravenous C.E.R.A. Versus Epoetin Alfa for the Maintenance of Haemoglobin Levels in Hemodialysis Patients With Chronic Renal Anaemia

This 2 arm study will compare the efficacy and safety of monthly administration of intravenous (IV) Mircera versus epoetin alfa for the maintenance of hemoglobin levels in hemodialysis patients with chronic renal anemia. Participants currently receiving maintenance treatment with epoetin alfa will be randomized either to receive monthly injections of 120, 200 or 360 micrograms Mircera, with the starting dose derived from the dose of epoetin alfa they were receiving in the week preceding study start, or to continue on epoetin alfa treatment. The anticipated duration of study is 32 weeks, and the target sample size is 146 participants.

Inclusion Criteria:

• chronic renal anemia;
• continuous iv maintenance epoetin alfa therapy, with the same dosing interval during the previous month to and during SVP;
• regular hemodialysis for greater than or equal to (>=) 3 months

Exclusion Criteria:

• transfusion of red blood cells during previous 2 months
• poorly controlled hypertension requiring interruption of epoetin alfa treatment in previous 6 months;