Previously, first and subsequent cycle administration of Neulasta to stimulate production of infection-fighting white blood cells was indicated for patients receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy associated with a more than 30 to 40 percent risk of febrile neutropenia. Administration of Neulasta beginning in the first cycle of chemotherapy is now approved for patients receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy associated with at least a 17 percent risk of febrile neutropenia. Myelosuppressive chemotherapy is toxic to the bone marrow where white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets are produced.
"The Phase 3 study demonstrated that administering Neulasta beginning in the first chemotherapy cycle reduced the incidence of febrile neutropenia by 94 percent," said Willard Dere, M.D., chief medical officer and senior vice president of Global Development at Amgen. "With this approval and Neulasta's once-per-cycle dosing, physicians can help protect appropriate patients proactively before their white blood cell counts become dangerously low."
The expanded label was based on a randomized, placebo-controlled study of 928 metastatic or non-metastatic breast cancer patients that was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology earlier this year. First and subsequent-cycle administration of Neulasta resulted in a 94 percent reduction in the incidence of febrile neutrope
'"/>
Contact: Kristen Davis, Amgen
kristend@amgen.com
805-447-4587
Porter Novelli
15-Sep-2005