Doping Control Analysis of Darbepoetin Alfa Biosimilars in Human Urine, Serum, Plasma, and Dried Blood Spots.
Akiyama Kentaro K, Sakurai Hikaru H, Sato Mitsuhiko M, Momobayashi Atsushi A et al.
Following the patent expiration of the originator darbepoetin alfa, three biosimilar products have been marketed in Japan; however, their detectability by current anti-doping methods has not yet been verified. The present study assessed whether these biosimilars can be detected in human urine, serum, plasma, and dried blood spots (DBS) using the established initial testing procedure and confirmation analysis for erythropoietin-receptor agonists. The originator product and three biosimilars (5 μg, i.v.) were administered to healthy male volunteers. Samples collected up to 72 h postdose were subjected to immunopurification followed by sodium N-lauroyl sarcosinate polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis (SAR-PAGE) as the initial testing procedure. Confirmation was performed by SAR-PAGE with double blotting for serum and plasma. DBS and urine samples were confirmed by SAR-PAGE using an alternative antibody, and urine samples were further examined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). SAR-PAGE analysis of the pharmaceutical preparations revealed product-specific electrophoretic profiles: two biosimilars migrated slightly above one originator product as diffused smears, whereas the third produced a sharp band comparable to that of another originator product. Similar profiles were observed in postdose samples from all biological matrices, and all biosimilars remained detectable in urine, serum, plasma, and DBS for at least 72 h. Although some biosimilars showed distinct SAR-PAGE banding patterns, product attribution remained limited. LC-MS/MS confirmed administered darbepoetin alfa in the 24 h urine samples but did not detect analyte in lower concentration samples, indicating that its performance was concentration-dependent. Accordingly, SAR-PAGE should incorporate reference standards beyond the originator product, particularly those with different band morphologies.