Hospira's Nivestim, a new biosimilar filgrastim, approved in Europe

11 June 2010

USA-headquartered Hospira announced yesterday that the European Commission has approved Nivestim (filgrastim) for the prevention of febrile neutropenia (FN), the most serious hematological toxicity that occurs as a result of cancer chemotherapy. Nivestim now has marketing authorization in all European Union member states and, according to the company, is expected to reduce the cost of neutropenia treatment.

Filgrastim is the active ingredient of US biotechnology major Amgen's Neupogen, which combined with Neulasta (pegfilgrastim), generated first-quarter 2010 sales of $1.18 billion for the company (The Pharma Letter April 22).

Cornelius Waller, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at the Freiburg University Medical Center, Germany, said: 'The approval of Nivestim offers tangible benefits to health care professionals and patients alike. Neutropenia that occurs as a result of cancer chemotherapy can result in patients being unable to complete their full course of chemotherapy. Nivestim provides healthcare professionals with a cost-effective, easy-to-use option to keep patients on track.'

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