What is Neulasta used for?


Neulasta is a medicine used in cancer patients to help with neutropenia (low levels of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell), which is a common side effect of cancer treatment and can leave patients vulnerable to infections.

It is given specifically to reduce the duration of neutropenia and prevent febrile neutropenia (neutropenia accompanied by fever).

Neulasta is not intended for use in patients with the blood cancer chronic myeloid leukaemia or with myelodysplastic syndromes (conditions in large numbers of abnormal blood cells are produced, which can develop into leukaemia).


How is Neulasta used?


Neulasta can only be obtained with a prescription and treatment should be started and supervised by a doctor who has experience in the treatment of cancer or blood disorders.

It is available as a prefilled syringe containing a solution for injection under the skin. Neulasta is given as a single dose of 6 mg injected under the skin at least 24 hours after the end of each cycle of chemotherapy (treatment with cancer medicines). Patients can inject themselves if they have been trained appropriately.

For more information about using Neulasta, see the package leaflet or contact your doctor or pharmacist.


How does Neulasta work?


The active substance in Neulasta, pegfilgrastim, consists of filgrastim, which is very similar to a human protein called granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G‑CSF). Filgrastim works by encouraging the bone marrow to produce more white blood cells, increasing white blood cell counts and so treating neutropenia.

Filgrastim has been available in other medicines in the European Union (EU) for a number of years. In Neulasta, filgrastim has been ‘pegylated’ (attached to a chemical called polyethylene glycol). This slows down the removal of filgrastim from the body, allowing the medicine to be given less often.


What are the side effects associated with Neulasta?


The most common side effect with Neulasta (which may affect more than 1 in 10 people) is pain in the bones. Pain in muscles is also common. For the full list of side effects and restrictions with Neulasta, see the package leaflet.


What benefits of Neulasta have been shown in studies?


Neulasta has been studied in two main studies involving 467 patients with breast cancer who were being treated with chemotherapy. In both studies, the effectiveness of a single injection of Neulasta was compared with multiple daily injections of filgrastim during each of four chemotherapy cycles. The main measure of effectiveness was the duration of severe neutropenia during the first cycle of chemotherapy.

Neulasta was as effective as filgrastim in reducing the duration of severe neutropenia. In both studies, the patients had severe neutropenia for around 1.7 days during their first chemotherapy cycle. This compares with around five to seven days when no stimulating factor is used.