Continuous erythropoietin receptor activator (CERA) is the generic term for drugs in a new class of third-generation erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs).
Under the trade name Mircera, Roche Pharmaceuticals received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in January 2008 to market a continuous erythropoiesis receptor activator (methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta) for the treatment of anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease, including in those undergoing dialysis.
[2] In terms of its structure, Mircera is similar to the previous synthetic EPO drugs, except that it is connected to a chemical called polyethylene glycol (PEG), which makes it last longer in the body.
[citation needed] However, professional cyclist Riccardo Riccò returned a positive A-sample test for Mircera in the 2008 Tour de France and was ejected from the race by his team and arrested by French police.
[citation needed] In July 2009, the Union Cycliste Internationale announced that Danilo Di Luca, who had finished second in the 2009 Giro d'Italia had samples from two stages test positive.