Erythropoietin(EPO)是一種醣蛋白激素(glycoprotein hormone),其分子量為30,400 daltons。目前 EPO 於一般治療使用常以靜脈注射或皮下注射,每週二至三 次給予,造成病患門診次數增加的困擾,尤其為了避免靜脈注射及皮下注射所造成 的疼痛,未來研究口服給藥或鼻腔輸送給藥將是理想的研究給藥方式微脂體(liposomes)劑型 EPO 因此可維持藥物在血漿中及保存時的安定性, 增加藥物體內循環時間,延長 EPO 在血液滯留半衰期。口服時,EPO/liposome 大 小及微脂體的成分皆是影響口服吸收及藥理作用的因素。應用鼻腔內輸送 EPO 時, 應需考量 EPO 分子量大於 30000 不易通過鼻腔黏膜到達體內循環系統。新穎促紅 血球細胞生成素(NESP),具有較多唾液酸支鏈,而具較佳生物活性較與較長排除半衰期。
未來發展中,對於 EPO 胜類似物,造血細胞磷酸抑制劑(haematopoietic cell phosphatase inhibitors, HCP inhibitors),EPO 融合物和 EPO 基因治療等治療方式是 值得研究的領域。
Erythropoietin (EPO) is a single-chain polypeptide with a molecular weight of 30,400. Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) has been successfully introduced as a treatment for anaemia associated with chronic renal failure. We have concluded the EPO following intravenous, subcutaneous, intranasal and oral administration route in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties. Compare EPO with EPO/liposomes drugs in pharmacologic effect. Novel erythropoietin stimulating protein, NESP, that there is a direct relationship between the sialic acid-containing carbohydrate content of the molecule and its serum half-life and in vivo biological activity.