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Get to Know Neulasta® |
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How do I administer Neulasta®? |
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The recommended dosage is a single subcutaneous injection administered
once per chemotherapy cycle. Neulasta® is supplied as
a preservative-free solution containing 6 mg of pegfilgrastim
(10 mg/mL)
in a prefilled single-dose syringe with a 27-gauge, 1/2-inch needle
and an UltraSafe® Needle Guard. It should be administered
at least 24 hours after myelosuppressive chemotherapy, but no sooner
than 14 days prior to the next cycle.9 |
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How can Neulasta® be effective when it is given only once per chemotherapy cycle? |
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Clearance of a single 6-mg dose of Neulasta® appears to be self-regulated, allowing it to remain in the blood until the post-nadir absolute neutrophil count (ANC) returns to normal. The serum concentration declines rapidly at the onset of neutrophil recovery.9 |
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How can a single fixed dose of Neulasta® be
effective irrespective of a patient’s weight? Won’t lighter patients require less and heavier patients more? |
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Neulasta® exhibits patient-specific pharmacokinetics
that provide for consistent neutrophil response independent
of weight, tumor type, or chemotherapy regimen. When administered
24 hours after chemotherapy, a single 6-mg fixed dose of Neulasta®
provides effective protection from neutropenic complications
for patients, irrespective of their weight.8,9 |
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How do Neulasta® and Filgrastim compare in terms of efficacy, safety, and tolerability? |
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In phase 3 clinical trials, Neulasta® was
comparable to Filgrastim on all efficacy, safety, and tolerability
measures7-9: |
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Duration of severe neutropenia (ANC < 500/µL) |
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Rate of febrile neutropenia (ANC < 500/µL; T > 38.2°C) |
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Depth of ANC nadir |
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Time to ANC recovery |
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Safety |
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Is Neulasta®
contraindicated for certain patient types? |
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Neulasta® is contraindicated in patients with a known
hypersensitivity to E coli-derived proteins,
pegfilgrastim, Filgrastim, or any other component
of the product. |
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What adverse events were observed
with Neulasta®? |
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UltraSafe® is a registered trademark of SafetySyringes, Inc™. |
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