Epoetin alfa

Epoetin alfa (rINN) /ɛˈpoʊ.ɪtɪn/ is a human erythropoietin produced in cell culture using recombinant DNA technology. Authorised by the European Medicines Agency on 28 August 2007, it stimulates erythropoiesis (increasing red blood cell levels) and is used to treat anemia, commonly associated with chronic renal failure and cancer chemotherapy. Epoetin alfa (rINN) /ɛˈpoʊ.ɪtɪn/ is a human erythropoietin produced in cell culture using recombinant DNA technology. Authorised by the European Medicines Agency on 28 August 2007, it stimulates erythropoiesis (increasing red blood cell levels) and is used to treat anemia, commonly associated with chronic renal failure and cancer chemotherapy. Epoetin is manufactured and marketed by Amgen under the trade name Epogen. Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen Biotech (formerly Ortho Biotech Products, LP), sells the same drug under the name Procrit, pursuant to a product license agreement. The average cost per patient in the U.S. was $8,447 in 2009. Darbepoetin alfa (rINN) /dɑːrbəˈpɔɪtɪn/ is a glycosylation analog of erythropoietin containing two additional N-linked carbohydrate chains, also manufactured and marketed by Amgen, with a trade name of Aranesp. The FDA warnings and safety precautions for Procrit, Epogen and Aranesp are identical. For several years, epoetin alfa has accounted for the single greatest drug expenditure paid by the U.S. Medicare system; in 2010, the program paid $2 billion for the drug. Raising hemoglobin levels has been found in some studies to be associated with higher risks of thrombotic events, strokes and death. Erythropoietin is available as a therapeutic agent produced by recombinant DNA technology in mammalian cell culture. It is used in treating anemia resulting from chronic kidney disease and myelodysplasia, from the treatment of cancer (chemotherapy and radiation). For patients who require dialysis or have chronic kidney disease, iron should be given with erythropoietin, depending on some laboratory parameters such as ferritin and transferrin saturation. Dialysis patients in the U.S. are most often given Epogen; other brands of epoetin may be used in other countries.