Current treatments for anemia in CKD mainly require recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) or its analogs (erythropoiesis stimulating agents [ESAs]) and iron supplementation (intravenous and/or oral) (KDIGO Clinical Practice Guideline Working Group, 2012; US Food and Drug Administration, 2011; Shepshelovich et al., 2016). Here, EPO is linked to anemia (phenotype).