A Study Comparing the Effects of Epoetin Hospira and Epogen/Epoetin Alfa (Amgen) When Administered IV in Patients With Chronic Renal Failure Requiring Hemodialysis and Receiving Epoetin Maintenance Treatment

This is a multicenter, active-controlled, cross-over, evaluator-blind, Phase I study in patients with chronic renal failure requiring hemodialysis. The study comprises a 4-week Screening Period, a 1-week Pre-Treatment Period, a 1-week Treatment Period 1, a 1-week Treatment Period 2 and a Follow-up visit at Week 7. Subject eligibility will be determined during the 4-week Screening Period. All subjects must be optimally titrated and stable to qualify for entry into Pre-Treatment Period. During the 1-week Pre-treatment period the patients will continue on the same stable dose as they received during the Screening Period. Blood samples will be collected during the Pre-Treatment Period to assess pharmacokinetics of Epogen. Eligible subjects will be randomized at Day 1 of Treatment Period 1 to receive either Epoetin Hospira or Epogen (Amgen) by intravenous (IV) bolus injections administered three times a week for 1 week. Subjects will then be switched to receive the alternate study drug for three times a week for 1 week in Treatment Period 2. Blood samples will be collected during Treatment periods 1 and 2 to assess pharmacokinetics of Epoetin Hospira and Epogen. Primary endpoint, i.e. pharmacokinetics concentrations, will be evaluator blinded. After completing Treatment Period 2, all subjects will receive standard of care treatment and will undergo a Follow-up Visit at Week 7 (i.e., 28 days after Treatment Period 2).