Pharmacological properties : תכונות פרמקולוגיות

Pharmacodynamic Properties

5.1   Pharmacodynamic properties

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Cytokines, ATC Code: L03AA02

Human G-CSF is a glycoprotein which regulates the production and release of functional neutrophils from the bone marrow. Neupogen containing r-metHuG-CSF (filgrastim) causes marked increases in peripheral blood neutrophil counts within twenty-four hours, with minor increases in monocytes. In some SCN patients filgrastim can also induce a minor increase in the number of circulating eosinophils and basophils relative to baseline; some of these patients may present with eosinophilia or basophilia already prior to treatment.
Elevations of neutrophil counts are dose-dependent at recommended doses. Neutrophils produced in response to filgrastim show normal or enhanced function as demonstrated by tests of chemotactic and phagocytic function. Following termination of filgrastim therapy, circulating neutrophil counts decrease by 50% within 1 to 2 days, and to normal levels within 1 to 7 days.

Use of filgrastim in patients undergoing cytotoxic chemotherapy leads to significant reductions in the incidence, severity and duration of neutropenia and febrile neutropenia. Treatment with filgrastim significantly reduces the durations of febrile neutropenia, antibiotic use and hospitalization after induction chemotherapy for acute myelogenous leukemia or myeloablative therapy followed by bone marrow transplantation. The incidence of fever and documented infections were not reduced in either setting. The duration of fever was not reduced in patients undergoing myeloablative therapy followed by bone marrow transplantation.

Use of filgrastim, either alone, or after chemotherapy, mobilizes hematopoietic progenitor cells into the peripheral blood. These autologous PBPCs may be harvested and infused after high-dose cytotoxic therapy, either in place of, or in addition to bone marrow transplantation. Infusion of PBPC accelerates hematopoietic recovery reducing the duration of risk for hemorrhagic complications and the need for platelet transfusions.

Recipients of allogeneic PBPCs mobilized with Neupogen experienced significantly more rapid hematological recovery, leading to a significant decrease in time to unsupported platelet recovery when compared with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

One retrospective European study evaluating the use of G-CSF after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in patients with acute leukemias suggested an increase in the risk of GvHD, treatment-related mortality (TRM) and mortality when G-CSF was administered. In a separate retrospective International study in patients with acute and chronic myelogenous leukemias, no effect on the risk of GvHD, TRM and mortality was seen. A meta-analysis of allogeneic transplant studies, including the results of nine prospective randomized trials, 8 retrospective studies and 1 case-controlled study, did not detect an effect on the risks of acute GvHD, chronic GvHD or early treatment-related mortality.


Relative Risk (95% CI) of GvHD and TRM
Following Treatment with G-CSF after Bone Marrow Transplantation
Publication        Period of       N        Acute               Chronic        TRM Study                    Grade II-IV GvHD    GvHD
Meta-Analysis                               1.08                1.02           0.70 (2003)             1986-2001a      1198     (0.87, 1.33)        (0.82, 1.26)   (0.38, 1.31) European
Retrospective                               1.33                1.29           1.73 Study (2004)       1992-2002b      1789     (1.08, 1.64)        (1.02, 1.61)   (1.30, 2.32) International
Retrospective                               1.11                1.10           1.26 Study (2006)       1995-2000b      2110     (0.86, 1.42)        (0.86, 1.39)   (0.95, 1.67) a.
Analysis includes studies involving BM transplant during this period; some studies used GM-CSF b.
Analysis includes patients receiving BM transplant during this period 
Use of filgrastim for the mobilization of PBPCs in normal donors prior to allogeneic PBPC transplantation 
In normal donors, a 10 µg/kg/day dose administered subcutaneously for 4 to 5 consecutive days allows a collection of ≥ 4 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg recipient body weight in the majority of the donors after two leukapheresis.

Use of filgrastim in patients, children or adults, with SCN (severe congenital, cyclic, and idiopathic neutropenia) induces a sustained increase in absolute neutrophil counts in peripheral blood and a reduction of infection and related events.

Use of filgrastim in patients with HIV infection maintains normal neutrophil counts to allow scheduled dosing of antiviral and/or other myelosuppressive medication. There is no evidence that patients with HIV infection treated with filgrastim show an increase in HIV replication.

As with other hematopoietic growth factors, G-CSF has shown in vitro stimulating properties on human endothelial cells.

Pharmacokinetic Properties

5.2       Pharmacokinetic properties

Clearance of filgrastim has been shown to follow first-order pharmacokinetics after both subcutaneous and intravenous administration. The serum elimination half-life of filgrastim is approximately 3.5 hours, with a clearance rate of approximately 0.6 ml/min/kg. Continuous infusion with Neupogen over a period of up to 28 days, in patients recovering from autologous bone marrow transplantation, resulted in no evidence of drug accumulation and comparable elimination half-lives. There is a positive linear correlation between the dose and the serum concentration of filgrastim, whether administered intravenously or subcutaneously. Following subcutaneous administration of recommended doses, serum concentrations were maintained above 10 ng/ml for 8 to 16 hours. The volume of distribution in blood is approximately 150 ml/kg.