In vivo administration of EPO Biosimilars with low molecular weight: how to improve detection by anti-doping laboratories

Project Title: In vivo administration of EPO Biosimilars with low molecular weight: how to improve detection by anti-doping laboratories

Researchers: Alexandre Marchand, Laurent Martin, Jean-Antoine Martin (AFLD, France), Xinmiao Zhou, Lisi Zhang (National Anti-Doping Laboratory of China, CHINADA, China), Lamine Redouane Mekacher (Commission Nationale Anti-Dopage Algérienne, Algeria), François Fenaille (Laboratoire du Métabolisme des Médicaments, CEA, France)

Year accepted: 2018

Summary: The aims of this research were: i) to study the electrophoretic profiles obtained by IEF and SDS-PAGE of the three Biosimilars spiked in urine and plasma and to evaluate their identification following WADA’s criteria (TD2014EPO), ii) to test complementary strategies to improve detection of EPO biosimilars using a two-dimensional electrophoresis approach (SDS separation following IEF) and a neuraminidase treatment of the sample shown to increase the separation between recombinant and endogenous EPO by SDS-PAGE, iii) to evaluate by mass spectrometry the specific N-glycosylation pattern of each biosimilar and compare with the original rEPO Eprex®.