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Produced by recombinant DNA technology, Neulasta®
is a protein that stimulates the production of infection-fighting
white blood cells (neutrophils) that are depleted during chemotherapy. |
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The "peg" in pegfilgrastim refers to a polyethylene glycol,
"PEG," unit that is added to enlarge the Filgrastim protein.
This enlargement prolongs the length of time it stays in the
body, and this allows for administration in a single dose
per chemotherapy cycle. |
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Neulasta® appears to be self-regulating:
It remains in the blood while a patient is neutropenic and
is cleared rapidly when the neutrophil count increases and
it is no longer needed. |
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The recommended dosage of Neulasta® is a
single subcutaneous injection of 6 mg once per chemotherapy
cycle. Neulasta® should be administered 24 hours
after myleosuppressive chemotherapy, but not sooner than 14 days
prior to the next cycle. |
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Available in a dispensing pack, Neulasta®
is supplied as a preservative-free solution containing 6 mg
of Neulasta® in a single-dose syringe with
a 27-gauge, 1/2-inch needle and an UltraSafe®
Needle Guard. |
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Neulasta® is indicated to decrease the incidence of infection,
as manifested by febrile neutropenia, in patients with nonmyeloid malignancies
receiving myelosuppressive anticancer drugs associated with a clinically significant
incidence of febrile neutropenia. |
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UltraSafe® is a registered trademark of SafetySyringes, Inc™. |
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