Oncology

Back to articles

Pegfilgrastim Provides Extended Duration for Managing Neutropenia

March 1, 2002
  • Advising on this article:
  • Gary C. Yee

KEY POINT

Pegfilgrastim (Neulasta—Amgen) has been approved to decrease the incidence of infection, as manifested by febrile neutropenia, in patients receiving chemotherapy. While it carries nearly the same indication as the company’s well-known filgrastim (Neupogen) colony-stimulating factor, the pegylated form of the drug has a longer half-life, which permits a single subcutaneous (SC) injection 24 hours after chemotherapy that will stimulate hematopoiesis for up to 14 days.

SOURCES

Holmes FA et al. Blinded, randomized, multicenter study to evaluate single administration pegfilgrastim once per cycle versus daily filgrastim as a adjunct to chemotherapy in patients with high-risk stage II or stage III/IV breast cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2002;20:727–31.

Recent Articles

2215 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 Telephone 202-628-4410 Fax 202-783-2351

© 2013 American Pharmacists Association All Rights Reserved.

About the American
Pharmacists Association

The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) is the organization whose members are recognized in society as essential in all patient care settings for optimal medication use that improves health, wellness and quality of life. Through information, education and advocacy, APhA empowers its members to improve medication use and advance patient care.

More info

About APhA DrugInfoLine

APhA DrugInfoLine (ISSN 2162-3015) is a weekly publication of, and is owned and copyrighted by the American Pharmacists Association, the national professional society of pharmacists. Materials in APhA DrugInfoLine do not neccessarily represent the policy, recommendations, or endorsement of APhA. The publisher, authors, editors, reviewers, and contributors have taken care to ensure that the information contained in APhA DrugInfoLine is accurate and current; however, they shall have no ability to any person or entity with regard to claims, losses, or damage caused or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly by use of any information contained in the publication. All decisions about drug therapy must be based on independent judgement of the clinician.