Erythropoietin (EPO)

Also known as Epoetin.

Approved-medicine listing only. This is not available from the Cellular Sequence shop. Licensed products require a prescriber and an ARTG-registered presentation.

At-a-glance profile

Classification: Glycoprotein hormone (not a short research peptide)
Approval status: Approved medicine
Research status: Labelled indications are defined in product information.
Molecular formula: Insufficient reliable evidence identified.
Molecular weight: Insufficient reliable evidence identified.
Sequence: Recombinant EPO analogues are licensed for anaemia; IU-labelled research vials are not those products.
Primary biological target: Insufficient reliable evidence identified.
Half-life: Insufficient reliable evidence identified.
Routes investigated: Insufficient reliable evidence identified.
Human evidence level: A — Approved clinical use / strong human evidence

What is it?

A prescription marrow stimulant. Sport-banned. Grey-market ‘EPO 3000 IU’ kits are not medical care.

Mechanism of action

EPO-receptor signalling increases red-cell mass.

Viscosity, thrombosis, and hypertension risk if misused.

What is it being studied for?

Anaemia of CKD and related licensed indications

Investigational findings are not proven clinical benefits unless an authority has labelled that indication.

Evidence level

Overall human evidence grade: A · Approved clinical use / strong human evidence

Human research

Licensed epoetins have outcome and safety data; research vials do not.

Preclinical research

Animal, cell and in-vitro findings are listed separately from human effects.

Erythropoiesis biology.

Doses reported in published research

This section does not provide personalised medical dosing. Values are those reported in papers or protocols. Animal mg/kg doses are not converted to human doses.

Doses reported in human studies

Insufficient reliable evidence identified.

Preclinical / animal study dosing

Insufficient reliable evidence identified.

Pharmacokinetics

Reliable human pharmacokinetic data were not identified for this encyclopaedia entry, or are limited to product information for approved presentations.

Safety

Thrombosis, hypertension, pure red-cell aplasia (class risk).

Unknowns. Absence of a published harm signal is not evidence of safety.

Contraindications. Not for unsupervised use. WADA prohibited.

Regulatory status

Approved as specific recombinant medicines.

Cellular Sequence does not sell this as a vial, tablet, oil, or injectable. Educational encyclopaedia listing only.

Citations

[1] Encyclopaedia note
Encyclopaedia note

For educational and research reference only. This page summarises published scientific literature and does not constitute medical advice, prescribing information or a recommendation to use an investigational compound. Research doses shown describe doses reported in published studies and are not personalised dosing instructions.

Last reviewed 2026-09-13. Research areas: Performance · Compare peptides