Anemia Studies in Chronic Kidney Disease: Erythropoiesis Via a Novel Prolyl Hydroxylase Inhibitor Daprodustat-Non-Dialysis (ASCEND-ND)

Inclusion Criteria

• Age: 18 to 99 years of age (inclusive)
• CKD stage: Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) CKD stages 3, 4, or 5 defined by electronic eGFR using the CKD Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) formula.
• Erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESAs)/Hgb: Group 1 (not using ESAs): No ESA use within the 6 weeks prior to screening and no ESA use between screening and randomization (Day 1). Group 2 (ESA users): Use of any approved ESA for the 6 weeks prior to screening and continuing between screening and randomization.
• For Group 1 (not using ESAs), Hgb concentration at Week -8 and Week 1 should be 8 to 10 gram per deciliter (g/dL). For Group 2 (ESA users), Hgb concentration at Week -8 should be 8 to 12 g/dL and at Week 1 should be 8 to 11 g/dL.
• >=80% and 500 millisecond (msec), or QTcB >530 msec in subjects with bundle branch block. There is no Q-T Interval Corrected for Heart Rate (QTc) exclusion for subjects with a predominantly ventricular paced rhythm.
• Alanine transaminase (ALT): >2x upper limit of normal (ULN) at screening.
• Bilirubin: >1.5xULN at screening.
• Current unstable liver or biliary disease per investigator assessment, generally defined by the presence of ascites, encephalopathy, coagulopathy, hypoalbuminaemia, esophageal or gastric varices, persistent jaundice, or cirrhosis.
• Malignancy: History of malignancy within the 2 years prior to screening through to randomization (Day 1) or currently receiving treatment for cancer, or complex kidney cyst (example [e.g.] Bosniak Category II F, III or IV) > 3 centimeter (cm); with the exception of localized squamous cell or basal cell carcinoma of the skin that has been definitively treated >=4 weeks prior to screening.
• Severe allergic reactions: History of severe allergic or anaphylactic reactions or hypersensitivity to excipients in the investigational product, or darbepoetin alfa.
• Drugs and supplements: Use of strong inhibitors of Cytochrome P4502C8 (CYP2C8) (e.g., gemfibrozil) or strong inducers of CYP2C8 (e.g., rifampin/rifampicin).
• Other study participation: Use of other investigational agent or device prior to screening through to randomization (Day 1). At screening, this exclusion applies to use of the investigational agent within 30 days or within five half lives (whichever is longer).
• Prior treatment with daprodustat: Any prior treatment with daprodustat for treatment duration of >30 days.
• Females only: Subject is pregnant [as confirmed by a positive urine human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) test for females of reproductive potential (FRP) only], subject is breastfeeding, or subject is of reproductive potential and does not agree to follow one of the contraceptive options.
• Other Conditions: Any other condition, clinical or laboratory abnormality, or examination finding that the investigator considers would put the subject at unacceptable risk, which may affect study compliance (e.g., intolerance to darbepoetin alfa) or prevent understanding of the aims or investigational procedures or possible consequences of the study.