A Reference Standard for Analytical Testing of Erythropoietin

PURPOSE: Erythropoietin (EPO) is a 165 amino acid protein that promotes the proliferation of erythrocytic progenitors. A decrease in endogenous EPO production causes anemia that can be treated with recombinant Human EPO (rHuEPO). OBJECTIVE: To ensure the safety and efficacy of the rHuEPO, manufacturers must use analytical methods to demonstrate similarity across batches and between different products. To do this they need reference standards to validate their equipment and methods. METHOD: We used peptide mapping, size-exclusion chromatography, glycoprofiling, and isoelectric focusing to analyze a rHuEPO reference standard. RESULTS: Characterization demonstrates that our rHuEPO reference standard meets the criteria for quality. CONCLUSION: The rHuEPO reference standard is fit for purpose as a tool for validating system suitability and methods. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11095-022-03213-1.