<br>        Inclusion Criteria:<br><br>          -  Women without childbearing potential<br><br>          -  Male or female subjects = 18 years of age with anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD)<br>             at screening<br><br>          -  Estimated glomerular filtration rate of < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (Modification of Diet in<br>             Renal Disease [MDRD] or the formula according to Matsuo, et al)<br><br>          -  Not on dialysis and not expected to begin dialysis during the treatment period of the<br>             study (at least 16 weeks from randomization)<br><br>          -  Not treated with any erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) within 8 weeks before<br>             randomization<br><br>          -  Mean screening Hb concentration </= 10.5 g/dL<br><br>          -  Body weight of 45 kg to 125 kg, inclusive, at screening<br><br>        Exclusion Criteria:<br><br>          -  Subjects with significant acute or chronic bleeding, such as overt gastrointestinal<br>             bleeding<br><br>          -  Chronic inflammatory disease that could impact erythropoiesis (e.g., systemic lupus<br>             erythematosis, rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease) even if it is currently in<br>             remission<br><br>          -  Previous or concurrent cancer except cervical carcinoma in situ, treated basal cell<br>             carcinoma, superficial bladder tumors (Ta, Tis, and T1) or any cancer curatively<br>             treated > 3 years prior to randomization<br><br>          -  Subjects treated with any ESA within the 8 weeks before randomization<br><br>          -  Red blood cell (RBC) containing transfusion within the 8 weeks before randomization<br><br>          -  History of cardio- (cerebro-) vascular events (e.g., unstable angina, myocardial<br>             infarction, stroke, transient ischemic attack, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary<br>             embolism) within the last 6 months from initial screening visit<br><br>          -  Severe rhythm or conduction disorders (e.g., HR < 50 or > 110 bpm, atrial flutter,<br>             prolonged QT > 500 msec, third degree atrioventricular [AV] block)<br><br>          -  New York Heart Association Class III or IV congestive heart failure<br><br>          -  Severe hepatic insufficiency (defined as alanine aminotransferase [ALT] or aspartate<br>             aminotransferase [AST] > 3 x the upper limit of normal [ULN], total bilirubin > 2<br>             mg/dL, or Child-Pugh B and C) or active hepatitis, in the investigator's opinion<br>