EPO-CTP: Erythropoietin

Estimated 2009 worldwide market of $10 billion The level of red blood cells in the body at any given time depends on a hormone called Erythropoietin (EPO). The kidneys make EPO and it travels to the bone marrow, where it stimulates the production of red blood cells. Individuals with chronic kidney failure, chemotherapy patients and HIV/AIDS patients on AZT suffer from low levels of EPO.

Without sufficient EPO, the level of red blood cells drops, causing anemia. Annual sales of EPO are estimated to be $10 billion in 2007, and rising, selling under product names Epogen, Procrit, Eprex, Neorocormon/Epogin and Aranesp, by Amgen, Genentech Inc., Roche, Chugai and Johnson & Johnson, respectively.