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Aranesp (Amgen Inc.): Full Drug Profile

Medically reviewed by Min Clinic Staff | Updated: January 2026

Aranesp (Amgen Inc.) - General Information

Human erythropoietin with 2 aa substitutions to enhance glycosylation (5 N-linked chains), 165 residues (MW=37 kD). Produced in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells by recombinant DNA technology.

 

Pharmacology of Aranesp (Amgen Inc.)

Aranesp (Amgen Inc.) is used in the treatment of anemia. It is involved in the regulation of erythrocyte differentiation and the maintenance of a physiological level of circulating erythrocyte mass.

 

Aranesp (Amgen Inc.) for patients

Patients should be informed of the possible side effects of Aranesp and be instructed to report them to the prescribing physician. Patients should be informed of the signs and symptoms of allergic drug reactions and be advised of appropriate actions. Patients should be counseled on the importance of compliance with their Aranesp treatment, dietary and dialysis prescriptions, and the importance of judicious monitoring of blood pressure and hemoglobin concentration should be stressed.

It is recommended that Aranesp® should be administered by a healthcare professional. In those rare cases where it is determined that a patient can safely and effectively administer Aranesp at home, appropriate instruction on the proper use of Aranesp should be provided for patients and their caregivers, including careful review of the accompanying "Information for Patients" insert. Patients and caregivers should also be cautioned against the reuse of needles, syringes, or drug product, and be thoroughly instructed in their proper disposal. A puncture-resistant container for the disposal of used syringes and needles should be made available to the patient.

 

Aranesp (Amgen Inc.) Interactions

No formal drug interaction studies of Aranesp have been performed.

 

Aranesp (Amgen Inc.) Contraindications

Aranesp is contraindicated in patients with:

• uncontrolled hypertension

• known hypersensitivity to the active substance or any of the excipients

 

Additional information about Aranesp (Amgen Inc.)

Aranesp (Amgen Inc.) Indication: For the treatment of anemia (from renal transplants or certain HIV treatment) Mechanism Of Action: Aranesp (Amgen Inc.) 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. Drug Interactions: Not Available Food Interactions: Not Available Generic Name: Darbepoetin alfa Synonyms: Epoetin; Erythropoietin precursor Drug Category: Antianemic Agents Drug Type: Biotech; Approved; Investigational Other Brand Names containing Darbepoetin alfa: Aranesp (Amgen Inc.); Absorption: Not Available Toxicity (Overdose): Not Available Protein Binding: Not Available Biotransformation: Not Available Half Life: Not Available Dosage Forms of Aranesp (Amgen Inc.): Solution Intravenous Chemical IUPAC Name: Human erythropoietin Chemical Formula: C815H1317N233O241S5 Darbepoetin alfa on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darbepoetin_alfa Organisms Affected: Humans and other mammals