Darbepoetin alfa har fem N- koblede kulhydratkæder, hvor det endogene hormon og recombinante humane erytropoietiner (r- HuEPO) har tre.
Darbepoetin alfa has five N-linked carbohydrate chains whereas the endogenous hormone and recombinant human erythropoietins (r-HuEPO) have three.