Advance Access publication 25 June 2007 Recombinant EPO production—points the nephrologist should know

stimulating agents; erythropoietin; recombinant; renal anemia Why should the nephrologist be familiar with EPOs and biosimilars? The administration of recombinant human erythro-poietin (rhEPO) and its analogues provides enormous benefit in the prevention and reversal of anaemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD), malignancy and AIDS, and it supports autologous blood collection. rhEPO-type substances represent the largest market of a class of biopharmaceuticals, with global estimated sales of 1010 euro per annum. The key process patents for the first-generation of rhEPOs have expired in the EU and other regions, opening the market for biosimilar follow-on products. In addition