<br>        Inclusion Criteria:<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 (eGFR) of < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (Modification of<br>             Diet in Renal Disease 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>          -  Treated with darbepoetin via intravenous (IV) or subcutaneous (SC) route with a<br>             weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly dose, having had no more than one dose change within 8<br>             weeks prior to randomization<br><br>          -  At least one kidney<br><br>          -  Mean screening hemoglobin (Hb) concentration of 10.0 to 12.0 g/dL<br><br>          -  Men who agree to use adequate contraception when sexually active or women without<br>             childbearing potential<br><br>        Exclusion Criteria:<br><br>          -  Subjects with significant acute or chronic bleeding, such as overt gastrointestinal<br>             bleeding<br><br>          -  Active hemolysis or diagnosis of hemolytic syndrome<br><br>          -  History of myelodysplastic syndrome, multiple myeloma, marrow fibrosis, or pure<br>             red-cell aplasia (PRCA)<br><br>          -  History of hemosiderosis or hemochromatosis<br><br>          -  Hereditary hemoglobinopathies (such as sickle cell disease and thalassemia major)<br><br>          -  Aplastic anemia<br><br>          -  Chronic lymphoproliferative diseases<br><br>          -  Proliferative choroidal or retinal disease, such as neovascular age-related macular<br>             degeneration or proliferative diabetic retinopathy that is likely to require invasive<br>             treatment (intraocular injections or laser photocoagulation) during the study<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>          -  Known hypersensitivity to the study drugs (active substances or excipients of the<br>             preparations)<br><br>          -  Uncontrolled and symptomatic hyperparathyroidism<br><br>          -  Uncontrolled active infection<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>          -  Any allograft (including renal allograft) in place and on immunosuppressive therapy or<br>             a scheduled kidney transplant within the next 16 weeks (being on a waiting list does<br>             not exclude the subject)<br>