EPO and anemia: This research involved a comparison of the potential therapeutic and economic impact of using two erythropoietin drugs (epoetin-beta and darbepoetin-alfa) among patients with stage 5 CKD for the treatment of associated anemia. Our pharmacoeconomic analysis showed that anemia in CKD patients treated with epoetin-beta is associated with a substantial clinical benefit and results in significant additional cost savings relative to darbepoetin-alfa.