Aranesp 30 mcg

Pharmacological Effects

Pharmacological Action – Hematopoietic

Pharmacodynamics

Darbepoetin alfa promotes erythropoiesis through the same process as natural erythropoietin. It has five N-linked carbohydrate chains, whereas the natural hormone and recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) have only three. The additional sugar chains do not differ at a molecular level from those found in the natural hormone. The increased carbohydrate content gives darbepoetin alfa a longer half-life compared to rhEPO, resulting in enhanced in vivo activity. Despite these structural modifications, darbepoetin alfa maintains a very specific interaction with the erythropoietin receptor.

Erythropoietin is a growth factor primarily responsible for stimulating red blood cell production. Erythropoietin receptors may also be found on the surfaces of various tumor cells.