title: Pegfilgrastim: a review of the pharmacoeconomics for chemotherapy-induced neutropenia.
abstract: For oncology patients, febrile neutropenia (FN) can be a serious and costly toxicity of chemotherapy, often forcing a reduction in chemotherapy dose intensity and/or duration. Several therapeutic agents are used to reduce the occurrence of neutropenic episodes: granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSFs) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factors. Appropriate administration of colony-stimulating factors reduces the risk of FN episodes and the costs associated with FN treatment. In the USA, the two most commonly used G-CSFs are filgrastim and the longer-acting pegfilgrastim. This pharmacoeconomic review of pegfilgrastim briefly considers some of the early research of G-CSFs, then focuses on the most recent comparative studies of pegfilgrastim against the backdrop of forthcoming US patent expiration for both products. The authors conclude with commentary on the market for pegfilgrastim in light of the growing debate surrounding the optimal selection of patients, treatment costs and future alternatives for the use of these agents in chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 106 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY 12208, USA.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rofail
authors.forename: Mariam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tadros
authors.forename: Riham
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ywakim
authors.forename: Mina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tadrous
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krug
authors.forename: Leon E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Cosler
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016527:Drug Costs; D017850:Economics, Pharmaceutical; D005334:Fever / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control; D000069585:Filgrastim; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010330:Patents as Topic; D018579:Patient Selection; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; C455861:pegfilgrastim; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D000069585:Filgrastim