The word epoetin is used for recombinant human erythropoietin, followed by the appropriate Greek letter (spelled out). "Epoetin" describes erythropoietin preparations that have an amino acid sequence identical to the endogenous cytokine; the words alfa, beta, gamma, etc., are added to designate preparations that differ in the composition and the nature of the carbohydrate moieties.
Erythropoietins assigned a USAN are:
- epoetin alfa
- epoetin beta
- epoetin gamma
