Pegfilgrastim
Encyclopedia
Pegfilgrastim is a PEGylated form of the recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF)
analog, filgrastim
. Like GCSF, the pegylated form serves to stimulate the level of white blood cells (neutrophils).
Amgen
manufactures pegfilgrastim under the brand name Neulasta, and Roche
under the name Neulastim. The drug is prepared by coupling a 20 kDa Polyethylene glycol (PEG)
molecule to the N-terminus of the filgrastim protein. Pegfilgrastim has a human half-life of 15 to 80 hours, much longer than the parent filgrastim (3–4 hours).
Pegfilgrastim treatment can be used to stimulate the bone marrow to produce more neutrophils to fight infection in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Pegfilgrastim can be given on the first day of chemotherapy. As it supports white blood cell production, using this medicine prophylactically can allow an increased dose intensity of chemotherapy agents. Chemotherapy cycles can be repeated with greater frequency (increased dose-density), diminishing tumor regrowth.
Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor
Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor is a colony-stimulating factor hormone. G-CSF is also known as colony-stimulating factor 3 ....
analog, filgrastim
Filgrastim
Filgrastim is a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor analog used to stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of granulocytes. It is produced by recombinant DNA technology. The gene for human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor is inserted into the genetic material of Escherichia coli. ...
. Like GCSF, the pegylated form serves to stimulate the level of white blood cells (neutrophils).
Amgen
Amgen
Amgen Inc. is an international biotechnology company headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California. Located in the Conejo Valley, Amgen is the world's largest independent biotech firm. The company employs approximately 17,000 staff members. Its products include Epogen, Aranesp, Enbrel, Kineret,...
manufactures pegfilgrastim under the brand name Neulasta, and Roche
Hoffmann-La Roche
F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. is a Swiss global health-care company that operates worldwide under two divisions: Pharmaceuticals and Diagnostics. Its holding company, Roche Holding AG, has shares listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange....
under the name Neulastim. The drug is prepared by coupling a 20 kDa Polyethylene glycol (PEG)
Polyethylene glycol
Polyethylene glycol is a polyether compound with many applications from industrial manufacturing to medicine. It has also been known as polyethylene oxide or polyoxyethylene , depending on its molecular weight, and under the tradename Carbowax.-Available forms:PEG, PEO, or POE refers to an...
molecule to the N-terminus of the filgrastim protein. Pegfilgrastim has a human half-life of 15 to 80 hours, much longer than the parent filgrastim (3–4 hours).
Pegfilgrastim treatment can be used to stimulate the bone marrow to produce more neutrophils to fight infection in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Pegfilgrastim can be given on the first day of chemotherapy. As it supports white blood cell production, using this medicine prophylactically can allow an increased dose intensity of chemotherapy agents. Chemotherapy cycles can be repeated with greater frequency (increased dose-density), diminishing tumor regrowth.
External links
- Neulasta official site