Neupogen G-CSF data

Researchers using AMGN's Neupogen published preliminary data on the ability of the granulocyte colony stimulating factor to reverse relapse in leukemia patients who had received bone marrow transplants. Neupogen was able to reinduce complete remission in three of seven female patients whose cancer reappeared following bone marrow donation from an HLA-identical sibling, according to a report in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The patients were treated with a daily subcutaneous injection of 5 µg/kg of Neupogen. Treatment with cyclosporine and steroids was discontinued seven to 14 days after Neupogen was started. Complete remission was documented in three patients within 10 to 21 days after Neupogen treatment began. The three patients showed a complete hematologic response, as indicated by a granulocyte count above 1500/mm3 a platelet count above 100,000/mm3, and normal bone marrow, with no need for further red cell transfusions, for at least four weeks. Mild graft-versus-host disease developed in one patient, which resolved with steroids. ...