Grastofil
Authorised
This medicine is authorised for use in the European Union
filgrastim
MedicineHumanAuthorised
- Application under evaluation
- CHMP opinion
- European Commission decision
Overview
Grastofil is a medicine that stimulates the production of white blood cells and is used:
- to reduce the duration of neutropenia (low levels of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell) and to prevent febrile neutropenia (neutropenia with fever) in cancer patients (excluding patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia or with myelodysplastic syndromes). Neutropenia is a common side effect of cancer treatment and can leave patients vulnerable to infections;
- to reduce the duration of neutropenia in patients undergoing treatment to destroy the bone marrow cells before a bone marrow transplant (such as in some patients with leukaemia) if they are at risk of long-term, severe neutropenia;
- to help release cells from the bone marrow in patients who are about to donate blood stem cells for transplant;
- to increase levels of neutrophils and reduce the risk of infections in patients with neutropenia who have a history of severe, repeated infections;
- to treat persistent neutropenia in patients with advanced human-immunodeficiency-virus (HIV) infection, to reduce the risk of bacterial infections when other treatments are not appropriate.
Grastofil is a ‘biosimilar medicine’. This means that Grastofil is highly similar to another biological medicine (the ‘reference medicine’) that is already authorised in the EU.
Grastofil can only be obtained with a prescription and treatment should be given in collaboration with a centre for cancer treatment. The medicine is available in prefilled syringes and is given by injection under the skin or infusion (drip) into a vein.
The way Grastofil is given, its dose and the duration of treatment depend on why it is being used, the patient’s body weight and the response to treatment. For more information about using Grastofil, see the package leaflet or contact your doctor or pharmacist.
The active substance in Grastofil, filgrastim, is very similar to a human protein called granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). Filgrastim works in the same way as naturally produced G-CSF by encouraging the bone marrow to produce more white blood cells.
Grastofil was studied in one main study involving 120 female adult patients with breast cancer treated with chemotherapy (medicines to treat cancer) known to cause neutropenia. Patients were given the chemotherapy on day 1 of a three-week cycle, and then received one dose of Grastofil the next day and daily for up to 14 days. The main measure of effectiveness was the duration of severe neutropenia. Severe neutropenia lasted on average for 1.4 days which compared with 1.6 days and 1.8 days reported in studies using filgrastim found in the literature. Data from published studies indicate that the benefits and safety of filgrastim are similar in both adults and children receiving chemotherapy.
Studies were also carried out to show that Grastofil produces levels of the active substance in the body that are comparable to the reference medicine, Neupogen.
The most common side effects with Grastofil (which may affect more than 1 in 10 people) are fever, musculoskeletal pain (pain in the muscles and bones), anaemia (low red blood cell counts), vomiting and nausea (feeling sick). Other side effects may be seen in more than 1 patient in 10, depending on the condition that Grastofil is being used for. For the full list of side effects and restrictions with Grastofil, see the package leaflet.
The European Medicines Agency decided that, in accordance with EU requirements for biosimilar medicines, Grastofil has been shown to have a comparable quality, safety and effectiveness to Neupogen. Therefore, the Agency’s view was that, as for Neupogen, the benefits of Grastofil are greater than its risks and it can be authorised for use in the EU.
Recommendations and precautions to be followed by healthcare professionals and patients for the safe and effective use of Grastofil have been included in the summary of product characteristics and the package leaflet.
As for all medicines, data on the use of Grastofil are continuously monitored. Side effects reported with Grastofil are carefully evaluated and any necessary action taken to protect patients.
Grastofil received a marketing authorisation valid throughout the EU on 18 October 2013.
Product information
Latest procedure affecting product information:
N/0039
22/12/2021
This medicine’s product information is available in all official EU languages.
Select 'available languages' to access the language you need.
Product information documents contain:
- summary of product characteristics (annex I);
- manufacturing authorisation holder responsible for batch release (annex IIA);
- conditions of the marketing authorisation (annex IIB);
- labelling (annex IIIA);
- package leaflet (annex IIIB).
Product details
- Name of medicine
- Grastofil
- Active substance
- filgrastim
- International non-proprietary name (INN) or common name
- filgrastim
- Anatomical therapeutic chemical (ATC) code
- L03AA02
Pharmacotherapeutic group
ImmunostimulantsTherapeutic indication
Grastofil is indicated for the reduction in the duration of neutropenia and the incidence of febrile neutropenia in patients treated with established cytotoxic chemotherapy for malignancy (with the exception of chronic myeloid leukaemia and myelodysplastic syndromes) and for the reduction in the duration of neutropenia in patients undergoing myeloablative therapy followed by bone marrow transplantation considered to be at increased risk of prolonged severe neutropenia.
The safety and efficacy of Grastofil are similar in adults and children receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy.
Grastofil is indicated for the mobilisation of peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPCs).
In patients, children or adults with severe congenital, cyclic, or idiopathic neutropenia with an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) of ? 0.5 x 109/L, and a history of severe or recurrent infections, long term administration of Grastofil is indicated to increase neutrophil counts and to reduce the incidence and duration of infection-related events.
Grastofil is indicated for the treatment of persistent neutropenia (ANC less than or equal to 1.0 x 109/L) in patients with advanced HIV infection, in order to reduce the risk of bacterial infections when other options to manage neutropenia are inappropriate.
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