Darbepoetin alfa

Darbepoetin alfa

Basics

Darbepoetin alfa is an active substance for the treatment of anemia and belongs to the group of epoetins. Darbepoetin alfa is a glycoprotein which is a derivative of erythropoietin (EPO). Darbepoetin has a longer effect due to the increased number of carbohydrate residues. It is produced biotechnologically and has 165 amino acids. Apart from 5 amino acids, it does not differ from erythropoietin. Darbepoetin is administered either intravenously (into the vein) or subcutaneously (under the skin) to form red blood cells (erythrocytes).

Effect

Darbepoetin alfa has the same effect as erythropoietin in that it interacts with the progenitor cells and thus stimulates blood formation (erythropoiesis). It binds to the erythropoietin receptors and subsequently activates the JAK-STAT signaling pathway in the cytosol. The activated signaling pathway then ensures the activation of certain genes that are responsible for cell formation and differentiation. The half-life of darbepoetin alfa, i.e. the time the body needs to excrete half of the active substance, is 21-49 hours.

Dosage

Always take Darbepoetin alfa exactly as described in the package leaflet or as advised by your doctor.

The usual recommended dose is one injection (s.c.) every 1-4 weeks, depending on your condition and age.

The first dose is usually administered by a healthcare professional who will then teach you how to administer it. All further doses can normally be self-administered.

Side Effects

The following side effects may occur:

Interactions

Interactions may occur if the following medicines are taken at the same time:

Contraindications

Darbepoetin alfa must NOT be taken in the following cases

Darbepoetin alfa is on the doping list and must therefore not be used in professional sport.

Age Restriction

Darbepoetin alfa should NOT be taken under the age of 1 year.

Pregnancy & Lactation

Darbepoetin alfa should NOT be taken during pregnancy and breastfeeding , as there are no studies on pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Chemical & physical properties

ATC Code B03XA02
Formula C81551317N233O241S5
Molar Mass (g·mol−1) 18396,1
Physical State liquid
Melting Point (°C) 53
CAS Number 209810-58-2
PUB Number 483927409
Drugbank ID DB00012

Editorial principles

All information used for the content comes from verified sources (recognised institutions, experts, studies by renowned universities). We attach great importance to the qualification of the authors and the scientific background of the information. Thus, we ensure that our research is based on scientific findings.
Thomas Hofko

Thomas Hofko
Author

Thomas Hofko is in the final third of his bachelor's degree in pharmacy and is an author and lecturer on pharmaceutical topics. He is particularly interested in the fields of clinical pharmacy and phytopharmacy.

The content of this page is an automated and high-quality translation from DeepL. You can find the original content in German here.

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