Dosing & Uses
Dosage Forms & Strengths
prefilled syringe, single-dose
- 6mg/0.6mL (Neulasta, Fulphila, Udenyca, Ziextenzo)
prefilled syringe, single-dose copackaged with the on-body injector (OBI)
- 6mg/0.6mL (Neulasta Onpro kit)
Biosimilar to Neulasta
- Fulphila (pegfilgrastim-jmdb)
- Udenyca (pegfilgrastim-cbqv)
- Ziextenzo (pegfilgrastim-bmez)
Prevention of Chemotherapy-induced Neutropenia
Indicated to decrease incidence of infection, as manifested by febrile neutropenia, for patients with nonmyeloid malignancies receiving myelosuppressive anticancer drugs associated with a clinically significant incidence of febrile neutropenia
6mg SC once per chemotherapy cycle
Hematopoietic Subsyndrome of Acute Radiation Syndrome
Neulasta only
Indicated to increase survival in patients acutely exposed to myelosuppressive doses of radiation
2 doses (6 mg each) SC 1 week apart
Administer the first dose as soon as possible after suspected or confirmed exposure to radiation levels >2 gray (Gy)
Dosage Modifications
Renal impairment: No dosage adjustment necessary; renal dysfunction has no effect on the pharmacokinetics of pegfilgrastim
Dosing Considerations
Hematopoietic subsyndrome of acute radiation syndrome
- Obtain a baseline complete blood cell (CBC) count
- Do not delay administration of pegfilgrastim if a CBC count is not readily available
- Estimate a patient’s absorbed radiation dose (eg, level of radiation exposure) based on information from public health authorities, biodosimetry if available, or clinical findings (eg, time to onset of vomiting, lymphocyte depletion kinetics)
Limitation of use
- Not indicated for the mobilization of peripheral blood progenitor cells for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Dosage Forms & Strengths
prefilled syringe, single-dose
- 6mg/0.6mL (Neulasta, Fulphila, Udenyca, Ziextenzo)
prefilled syringe, single-dose copackaged with the on-body injector (OBI)
- 6mg/0.6mL (Neulasta Onpro kit)
Biosimilar to Neulasta
- Fulphila (pegfilgrastim-jmdb)
- Udenyca (pegfilgrastim-cbqv)
- Ziextenzo (pegfilgrastim-bmez)
Prevention of Chemotherapy Induced Neutropenia
Indicated to decrease incidence of infection, as manifested by febrile neutropenia, for patients with nonmyeloid malignancies receiving myelosuppressive anticancer drugs associated with a clinically significant incidence of febrile neutropenia
Weight ≥45 kg: 6 mg SC once per chemotherapy cycle
Weight <45 kg
- Prefilled syringe is not designed to allow for direct administration of doses <0.6 mL (6 mg) since the syringe does not bear graduation marks, which are necessary to accurately measure; use of the prefilled syringe for doses <0.6 mL is not recommended due to the potential for dosing errors
- <10 kg: 0.1 mg/kg (0.01 mL/kg) SC once per chemotherapy cycle
- 10-20 kg: 1.5 mg (0.15 mL) SC once per chemotherapy cycle
- 21-30 kg: 2.5 mg (0.25 mL) SC once per chemotherapy cycle
- 31-44 kg: 4 mg (0.4 mL) SC once per chemotherapy cycle
Hematopoietic Subsyndrome of Acute Radiation Syndrome
Neulasta only
Indicated to increase survival in patients acutely exposed to myelosuppressive doses of radiation
Administer the first dose SC as soon as possible after suspected or confirmed exposure to radiation levels >2 gray (Gy)
Administer the second dose SC 1 week after first dose
Weight ≥45 kg: 6 mg SC once per chemotherapy cycle
Weight <45 kg
- Prefilled syringe is not designed to allow for direct administration of doses <0.6 mL (6 mg) since the syringe does not bear graduation marks, which are necessary to accurately measure; use of the prefilled syringe for doses <0.6 mL is not recommended due to the potential for dosing errors
- <10 kg: 0.1 mg/kg (0.01 mL/kg)
- 10-20 kg: 1.5 mg (0.15 mL)
- 21-30 kg: 2.5 mg (0.25 mL)
- 31-44 kg: 4 mg (0.4 mL)
Dosage Modifications
Renal impairment: No dosage adjustment necessary; renal dysfunction has no effect on the pharmacokinetics of pegfilgrastim
Dosing Considerations
Direct administration of the prefilled syringe to patients requiring <6 mg (0.6 mL) is not recommended owing to potential for dosing errors
Hematopoietic subsyndrome of acute radiation syndrome
- Obtain a baseline complete blood cell (CBC) count
- Do not delay administration of pegfilgrastim if a CBC count is not readily available
- Estimate a patient’s absorbed radiation dose (eg, level of radiation exposure) based on information from public health authorities, biodosimetry if available, or clinical findings (eg, time to onset of vomiting, lymphocyte depletion kinetics)
Limitation of use
- Not indicated for the mobilization of peripheral blood progenitor cells for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Adverse Effects
>10%
Bone pain (31%)
1-10%
Pain in extremity (9%)
<1%
Leukocytosis (WBC counts >100 x 10^9/L)
Postmarketing Reports
Gastrointestinal disorders: Splenic rupture and splenomegaly, glomerulonephritis
Blood and lymphatic system disorder: Sickle cell crisis, leukocytosis, capillary leak syndrome
Hypersensitivity Reactions: Allergic reactions/hypersensitivity, including anaphylaxis, skin rash, and urticaria, generalized erythema and flushing, cutaneous vasculitis to skin, and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Respiratory, thoracic, and mediastinal disorders: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), alveolar hemorrhage
General disorders and administration site conditions: Application site reactions (application site hemorrhage, pain, discomfort, bruise, and erythema)
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: Sweet syndrome (acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis), cutaneous vasculitis, aortitis
Thrombocytopenia
Contact dermatitis and local skin reactions such as rash, pruritus, and urticaria with on-body injector (possibly indicating a hypersensitivity reaction to adhesive)
Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in patients with breast and lung cancer receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy
Warnings
Contraindications
History of serious allergic reactions to pegfilgrastim or filgrastim
Cautions
Rare cases of splenic rupture may occur; evaluate if patient experiences left upper abdominal and/or shoulder tip pain
ARDS reported; evaluate symptoms, including fever, pulmonary infiltrates, or respiratory distress; discontinue if ARDS occurs
Serious allergic reactions (eg, anaphylaxis) can occur; majority of reported events occurred upon initial exposure; allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, can recur within days after the discontinuation of initial antiallergic treatment; permanently discontinue treatment in patients with serious allergic reactions (see Contraindications)
Severe and sometimes fatal sickle cell crises can occur in patients with sickle cell disorders; discontinue therapy if sickle cell crisis occurs
Capillary leak syndrome may occur; may vary in frequency and severity; closely monitor patients who develop symptoms and provide standard symptomatic treatment, which may include a need for intensive care
Glomerulonephritis reported; if suspected, evaluate for cause; if causality likely, consider dose reduction or interruption of therapy
Leukocytosis observed; monitoring CBC count during therapy recommended; higher counts reported
Pegfilgrastim may potentially act as growth factor for any tumor type, including myeloid malignancies and myelodysplasia
Missed or partial doses reported in patients receiving drug via OBI due to device not performing as intended; in event of missed or partial dose, patients may be at increased risk of events such as neutropenia, febrile neutropenia and/or infection than if dose had been correctly delivered; instruct patients using OBI to notify their healthcare professional immediately in order to determine need for replacement dose if they suspect that device may not have performed as intended
Aortitis reported; it may occur as early as the first week after start of therapy; manifestations may include generalized signs and symptoms such as fever, abdominal pain, malaise, back pain, and increased inflammatory markers (eg, C-reactive protein and white blood cell count); consider aortitis in patients who develop these signs and symptoms without known etiology; discontinue if aortitis is suspected
Increased hematopoietic activity of bone marrow in response to growth factor therapy has been associated with transient positive bone imaging changes; this should be considered when interpreting bone imaging results
Thrombocytopenia reported; monitor platelet counts
Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) associated with use in patients with breast and lung cancer receiving therapy; monitor patients for signs and symptoms of MDS/AML in these settings
Pregnancy & Lactation
Pregnancy
Insufficient data available on use in pregnant women to establish whether there is a drug associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes
Data from published studies in pregnant women exposed to filgrastim products have not established an association of filgrastim product use during pregnancy with major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes
In animal studies, no evidence of reproductive/developmental toxicity occurred in offspring of pregnant rats that received cumulative doses of pegfilgrastim approximately 10 times recommended human dose (based on body surface area); in pregnant rabbits, increased embryolethality and spontaneous abortions occurred at 4 times the maximum recommended human dose simultaneously with signs of maternal toxicity
Lactation
Unknown whether pegfilgrastim is secreted in human milk
Other recombinant G-CSF products are poorly secreted in breast milk, and G-CSF is not orally absorbed by neonates
Caution should be exercised when administered to a nursing female
Pregnancy Categories
A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.
B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk. C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done. D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk. X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist. NA: Information not available.Pharmacology
Mechanism of Action
Recombinant PEG-conjugated human G-CSF; acts on hematopoietic cells by binding to specific cell surface receptors, thereby stimulating proliferation, differentiation, commitment, and end-cell functional activation
Absorption
AUC (100 mcg/kg): 47.9 mcg·hr/mL (0-5 years); 22 mcg·hr/mL (6-11 years); 29.3 mcg·hr/mL (12-21 years)
Excretion
Neutrophil receptor binding is an important component of the clearance of pegfilgrastim, and serum clearance is directly related to the number of neutrophils and body weight
Patients with higher body weights experienced higher systemic exposure to pegfilgrastim after receiving a dose normalized for body weight
Half-life: 15-80 hr (adults); 30.1 hr (0-5 years); 20.2 hr (6-11 years); 21.2 hr (12-21 years)
Administration
SC Administration (Prefilled Syringe)
SC use only
Prior to use‚ allow prefilled syringe to reach room temperature for a minimum of 30 min
Do not administer between 14 days before and 24 hr after administration of cytotoxic chemotherapy
Visually inspect prefilled syringe for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit; do not administer if discoloration or particulates are observed
Needle cap contains dry natural rubber (derived from latex); avoid in patients with latex allergies
Patients weighing <45 kg
- Prefilled syringe is not designed to allow for direct administration of doses <0.6 mL (6 mg)
- Syringe does not bear graduation marks; thus, direct administration to patients requiring dosing of <0.6 mL (6 mg) is not recommended owing to the potential for dosing errors
SC Administration (Onpro kit)
A healthcare provider must fill the OBI with Neulasta using prefilled syringe and then apply the OBI to the skin (abdomen or back of arm); use the back of the arm if there is a caregiver available to monitor the status of the OBI for Neulasta
Approximately 27 hr after the OBI for Neulasta is applied to the patient’s skin, Neulasta will be delivered over ~45 min
Initiate the same day as the cytotoxic chemotherapy, as long as the OBI delivers Neulasta no less than 24 hr after administration of cytotoxic chemotherapy
Use only prefilled syringe copackaged in kit; prefilled syringe also contains additional solution to compensate for liquid loss during delivery through the OBI for Neulasta
Do not use the OBI to deliver any other drug product; OBI for Neulasta should be applied to intact, nonirritated skin on the arm or abdomen
Storage
Prefilled syringe
- Refrigerate at 2-8°C (36-46°F) in the carton to protect from light; do not shake
- Discard syringes stored at room temperature for >72 hr
- Avoid freezing; if frozen, thaw in the refrigerator before administration
- Discard syringe if frozen more than once
Onpro kit
- Refrigerate at 2-8°C (36-46°F) until ready to use
- Because OBI for Neulasta is at room temperature during the period of use, Neulasta Onpro kit should not be held at room temperature <12 hr prior to use
- Discard kit if stored at room temperature for >12 hr
- Do not use OBI for Neulasta if its packaging has been previously opened
Images
Patient Handout
Formulary
Adding plans allows you to compare formulary status to other drugs in the same class.
To view formulary information first create a list of plans. Your list will be saved and can be edited at any time.
Adding plans allows you to:
- View the formulary and any restrictions for each plan.
- Manage and view all your plans together – even plans in different states.
- Compare formulary status to other drugs in the same class.
- Access your plan list on any device – mobile or desktop.