The invention relates to human cells which are capable, on the basis of an activation of the endogenous human EPO gene, of producing EPO in a sufficient amount and purity to make possible a cost-effective production of human EPO as a pharmaceutical preparation. The invention furthermore relates to a method for the preparation of such human EPO-producing cells, DNA constructs for the activation of the endogenous EPO in human cells, and a method for the large technical production of EPO in human cells.