Mircera (methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta) is a third generation version of erythropoietin manufactured by pharmaceutical giant Hoffman-LaRoche that has been called “Super EPO.”
Mircera is an artificial form of erythropoietin (EPO) stimulators similar to Amgen’s Epogen and Aranesp. But Mircera is thought to be superior to Epogen and Aranesp due to the use of pegylation technology that provides a sustained release of erythropoiesis stimulating proteins (ESPs). PEGylated erythropoietin (PEG-EPO) results when a molecule of polyethylene glycol is attached.
Mircera (PEG-EPO) belongs to a category of drugs called Continuous Erythropoeitin Receptor Activators or CERA because it continuously interacts with the EPO receptor producing longer lasting effects. Only 1-2 monthly injections of Mircera have similar results to three times weekly injections of Epogen.
Cyclist Riccardo Ricco of the Saunier Duval-Scott professional cycling team was the first athlete to test positive for the new performance enhancing drug Mircera. His ‘A’ sample tested positive for metabolites of Mircera on July 17, 2008 at the 2008 Tour de France.
About the author
Millard writes about anabolic steroids and performance enhancing drugs and their use and impact in sport and society. He discusses the medical and non-medical uses of anabolic-androgenic steroids while advocating a harm reduction approach to steroid education.
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