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Pharmacokinetics of Pegfilgrastim
Author(s) -
Zamboni William C.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
pharmacotherapy: the journal of human pharmacology and drug therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.227
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1875-9114
pISSN - 0277-0008
DOI - 10.1592/phco.23.9.9s.32888
Subject(s) - pegfilgrastim , filgrastim , pharmacokinetics , medicine , pegylation , granulocyte colony stimulating factor , pharmacology , granulocyte , absolute neutrophil count , granulopoiesis , haematopoiesis , neutropenia , immunology , chemistry , chemotherapy , polyethylene glycol , stem cell , biology , organic chemistry , genetics
Pegfilgrastim is a granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) with a long half‐life and sustained duration of action. Pegfilgrastim is created with pegylation technology, whereby a 20‐kD polyethylene glycol moiety is conjugated to filgrastim (recombinant human G‐CSF), resulting in a larger molecule. Consequently, its renal clearance by glomerular filtration is minimized, making neutrophil‐mediated clearance the predominant route of elimination. Preclinical animal data have shown that the clearance of pegfilgrastim depends on dosage and absolute neutrophil count, with pegfilgrastim having a longer circulating half‐life and more sustained duration of action than filgrastim. The biologic effect of pegfilgrastim is prolonged in a neutropenic setting because few mature neutrophils are available to mediate its elimination. Clinical trials have suggested that neutrophil‐mediated clearance of pegfilgrastim may be self‐regulating and may therefore be specific to each patient's hematopoietic recovery.