Patent ID: 7414105

Claim:
A compound that binds to and activates the erythropoietin receptor (EPO-R), which compound comprises: (a) a first peptide monomer and a second peptide monomer, wherein the first and second peptide monomers each comprises the amino acid sequence (AcG)GLYACHMGPIT(1-nal)VCQPLR (SEQ ID NO: 14); and (b) at least one lysine linker moiety covalently bonding the C-terminus of said first peptide monomer and the C-terminus of said second peptide monomer to a spacer moiety, wherein the spacer moiety is covalently attached to the ε-amino functional group of said lysine linker moiety and has the formula: wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of NHCO and NHCOO, and PEG is a poly(ethylene glycol) moiety comprising a linear, unbranched poly(ethylene glycol) having molecular weight of about 10,000 to about 60,000 Daltons.