ASCO white blood cell growth factor guidelines

Executive Summary

Updated guidelines from the American Society of Clinical Oncology lower the recommended risk level for when cancer patients at risk of febrile neutropenia should receive hematopoietic colony stimulating factors. The new guidelines recommend CSF use when the risk of febrile neutropenia is 20% or greater. It was previously 40%. Amgen's Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) and Neupogen (filgrastim) as well as Schering AG's Leukine (sargramostim) are used in cancer treatment-induced febrile neutropenia. Amgen does not expect the guidelines to affect reimbursement for Neulasta since payers already reimburse based on a recent labeling update allowing treatment at the 17% febrile neutropenia risk level...