Japan approves pegfilgrastim for neutropenia

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) approved G-Lasta pegfilgrastim ( KRN125) from Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co. Ltd. (Tokyo:4151) to treat chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia. Kyowa has Japanese rights to the pegylated G-CSF from Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN).

Pegfilgrastim is approved in 107 countries and regions. Amgen markets the drug in the U.S. and EU as Neulasta (see BioCentury, March18) (see BioCentury, March 18). ...