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Aranesp

Brand- Name Aranesp Generic Name Darbepoetin alfa Company Amgen Disease/Medical Use Anemia First Approval Date Jun-2001

Darbepoetin alfais a synthetic form of erythropoietin. It stimulates erythropoiesis (increases red blood cell levels) and is used to treat anemia, commonly related with chronic renal failure and cancer chemotherapy. Darbepoetin is marketed by Amgen under the trade name Aranesp.

The drug was approved in September 2001 by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment of anemia in patients with chronic renal failure by intravenous or subcutaneous injection In June 2001, it had been approved by the European Medicines Agency for this indication as well as the treatment of anemia in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Darbepoetin is produced by recombinant DNA technology in modified Chinese hamster ovary cells. It differs from endogenous erythropoietin (EPO) by containing two more N-linked oligosaccharide chains. It is an erythropoiesis-stimulating 165-amino acid protein.

Darbepoetin alfa is used to treat low red blood cell counts (anemia) either in people with long-term kidney failure (chronic renal failure) or in people with certain types of cancer (non-myeloid) who are receiving chemotherapy. It works by stimulating the bone marrow to make more red blood cells.