Darbepoetin alfa is a recombinant form of human erythropoietin used to increase differentiation of progenitor cells to red blood cells in the treatment of anemia. Human erythropoietin with 2 aa substitutions to enhance glycosylation (5 N-linked chains), 165 residues (MW=37 kD).
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed
Darbepoetin alfa stimulates erythropoiesis by the same mechanism as endogenous erythropoietin. Erythropoietin interacts with progenitor stem cells to increase red cell production. Binding of erythropoietin to the erythropoietin receptor leads to receptor dimerization, which facilitates activation of JAK-STAT signaling pathways within the cytosol. Activated STAT (signal transducers and activators of transcription) proteins are then translocated to the nucleus where they serve as transcription factors which regulate the activation of specific genes involved in cell division or differentiation.
- Primary indication
- For the treatment of anemia (from renal transplants or certain HIV treatment)Curator reviewed · 2 structured indications
- Formula / weight
- C815H1317N233O241S5 · 18396.1 Da
- First approval
- Canada, 2002 · United States, 2001 · European Union, 2016
- Also known as
- Darbepoetin · Darbepoetin alfa,recombinant
- Brand names
Resolves to
What you can answer from here — as of July 17, 2026
Which drugs share a target with Darbepoetin alfa, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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