Updated June 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov
Use of Epoetin Alfa and Iron Derisomaltose in Treatment of Anemia in Patients With Sepsis or Septic Shock: a Randomized Controlled Trial
The Use of Epoetin Alfa and Iron Derisomaltose in the Treatment of Anemia in Patients With Sepsis or Septic Shock Hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit: a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Use of Epoetin Alfa and Iron Derisomaltose in Treatment of Anemia in Patients With Sepsis or Septic Shock: a Randomized Controlled Trial (NCT06670963) is a Phase 4 interventional studying Anemia and Sepsis, sponsored by Piotr Czempik. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.
About This Trial
Background Up to 66% of have anemia at the admission to the intensive care unit. This number increases to 95% after 72 hours of hospitalization in the intensive care unit due to illness and iatrogenic blood loss. Anemia worsens tissue oxygenation, especially in patietns with sepsis or septic shock, who already have blood flow issues. Instead of giving blood transfusions, which can have side effects, we aim to address the root causes of anemia in these patients. Sepsis can cause "inflammatory anemia" and combine with iron deficiency anemia. Current anemia treatments include drugs that stimulate red blood cell production and intravenous iron supplements. Some think that iron supplements can worsen infections by feeding pathogens, but this is not conclusively proven. Since transfused red blood cells (RBC) also contain iron, small doses of intravenous iron might help sepsis patients with iron deficiency. There is a need for a study on the effects of epoetin alfa and iron derisomaltose on hemoglobin (Hb) levels in sepsis patients. Hypothesis and Aim Treating anemia in sepsis patients could increase Hb levels and reduce RBC transfusions, improving patient outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the effects of epoetin alfa ± iron derisomaltose on Hb levels and RBC transfusion rates. Primary Endpoints: 1\. Hb difference at study exit (discharge from ICU/death/bleeding/need for surgery/day 15 whatever comes first) and day 1 corrected for Hb increase due to possible RBC transfusion Secondary Endpoints: 1. Hb difference on days 8 and 1 corrected for Hb increase due to possible RBC transfusion 2. Hb difference on days 15 and 1 corrected for Hb increase due to possible RBC transfusion 3. number of blood transfusions 4. percentage of patients receiving at least one blood transfusion 5. actual vs. predicted mortality 6. prevalence of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism 7. mortality rates in ICU, hospital, 30-day, and 90-day. Materials and Methods: This will be a randomized controlled clinical trial recruting 200 patients Inclusion Criteria: 1. age ≥18 2. diagnosed sepsis (Sepsis-3 definition) or septic shock (Septic Shock-3 definition) 3. hemoglobin \<120 g/L for both sexes Exclusion Criteria: 1. bleeding 2. decompensated liver disease 3. inherited microcytic disorders 4. macrocytosis 5. contraindications to pharmacological prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism 6. pregnancy 7. allergy to epoetin alfa and/or iron derisomaltose. 8. ferritin \>800 ng/mL. 9. inability to take consent Study Group: 1. epoetin alfa 50 u/kg IV (days 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12) 2. iron derisomaltose 0.2g IV when RET-He \<29.3 pg (days 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12) 3. algorithm for red blood cell transfusions Control Group: 1\. algorithm for red blood cell transfusions Laboratory Parameters: Initial: interleukin-6, procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, creatinine, ammonia, blood urea nitrogen, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, complete blood count (CBC), reticulocytes (RET), ferritin, iron, transferrin. Serial: CBC and RET (days 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12)
What Stage of Research Is This?
Phase 4 studies happen after a treatment has been approved by the FDA. They monitor long-term safety, real-world effectiveness, and any rare side effects that only emerge in larger populations over longer periods. Phase 4 results sometimes lead to label changes, additional warnings, or — rarely — withdrawal of approval.
This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.
Target enrollment of 200 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Anemia subpopulation. At this scale, the study has enough statistical power to detect a clear treatment effect but is not the largest cohort in the field.
Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)
These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.
Original Eligibility Criteria
View original clinical language
Treatments Being Tested
Iron
Iron derisomaltose 0.2g IV if reticulocyte hemoglobin equivalent \<29.3 pg (lower limit for the local laboratory reference range for reticulocyte hemoglobin equivalent)
EPO
Epoetin alfa 50 units/kg IV 3 times weekly
0.9 % NaCl
Volume of 0.9% NaCl identical as volume of medications used in experimental arm
Locations (1)
Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.
How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial
Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT06670963), the sponsor (Piotr Czempik), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.
Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.
Authoritative Sources
The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NCT06670963 clinical trial studying?
Background Up to 66% of have anemia at the admission to the intensive care unit. This number increases to 95% after 72 hours of hospitalization in the intensive care unit due to illness and iatrogenic blood loss. Anemia worsens tissue oxygenation, especially in patietns with sepsis or septic shock, who already have blood flow issues. Instead of giving blood transfusions, which can have side effects, we aim to address the root causes of anemia in these patients. Sepsis can cause "inflammatory anemia" and combine with iron deficiency anemia. Current anemia treatments include drugs that stimulate… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.
Who can participate in NCT06670963?
Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.
How do I contact the trial site for NCT06670963?
Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.
Is participating in a clinical trial safe?
Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.
Where can I verify the data on this page?
Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.
How This Page Is Built
Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT06670963. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT06670963. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."
Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.
Last updated 2026-06-07 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.