Erythropoietin mimetic compound AGEM400(HES) binds to the same receptor as erythropoietin but displays a different spectrum of activities.

EPO mimetic peptides (EMPs) have a completely different structure than erythropoietin (EPO) or new generation recombinant erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs) like Darbepoietin alfa (Aranesp) and continuous erythropoiesis stimulating agent (CERA). This study intended to compare the effects of a novel compound called AGEM400(HES), consisting of a dimeric EMP conjugated to hydroxyethyl starch (HES), to those of recombinant EPO. AGEM400(HES) efficiently stimulated erythropoiesis in vitro and efficiently stimulated survival of EPO-dependent cell line UT7/EPO.

Evaluation of fusogenic trophoblast surface epitopes as targets for immune contraception.

Syncytial trophoblast fusion is an essential step in the process of implantation. This project is aimed at the immunological inhibition of syncytial trophoblast fusion as a novel approach to contraception. Fusion-inhibiting recombinant antibodies were generated and used together with autoantibodies from patients with repetitive in vitro fertilization (IVF) failure that were shown to inhibit syncytial fusion and are expected to inhibit implantation, to generate anti-idiotypic peptides.