Erythropoietin (EPO) is a hormone produced by the kidney and it is involved in promoting the formation of red blood cells in the bone marrow. Human EPO is a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 34,000.
The kidney cells that make EPO are specialized and are sensitive to low oxygen levels in the blood. These cells release EPO when the oxygen level is low in the kidney. EPO then stimulates the bone marrow to produce more red cells and thereby increase the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.
EPO is the prime regulator of red blood cell production. Its major functions are to promote the differentiation and development of red blood cells and to initiate the production of hemoglobin, the molecule within red cells that transports oxygen.
The measurement of EPO in the blood is useful in the study of bone marrow disorders and kidney disease. Elevated levels of EPO can be seen in polycythemia, a disorder in which there is an excess of red blood cells while lower than normal levels of EPO are seen in chronic renal failure.
EPO produced through recombinant technologies is now routinely used in persons with anemia caused by renal failure, anemia caused during the treatment of AIDS, and anemia associated with cancer.EPO has been sometimes misused as a performance-enhancing drug in endurance athletes such as cyclists, long-distance runners, speed skaters, and skiers.
Development of Pegylated EPO at Transgene
Erythropoietin (EPO) is a hormone and its production is depressed in renal diseases resulting in anaemia and in some cancer conditions, therefore its continuous and regular usage is essential to correct anaemia caused by those conditions. Patients requiring this drug need repeated doses at regular intervals, which imparts a heavy financial burden because the EPO currently available is very expensive.
Transgene, using its expertise in improving yields of recombinant proteins, plans to launch this product at a highly affordable price, which should ensure a successful market entry.
TBL has identified a source for pegylation technology and is due to acquire this shortly. Pegylation is a technology for the sustained release of protein drugs. TBL will be the first company in India to own this drug delivery technology.
It is expected that TBL's pegylated Erythropoietin will be launched commercially during the financial year 2007-08 and TBL plans to market it by out-licensing the drug to major Pharma/Biotech players in a few strategic geographical locations.
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