Neupogen (filgrastim)

• Low white blood cells from chemotherapy: people with cancers that do not start in the bone marrow (non-myeloid cancers) who get chemotherapy that often causes low white blood cells with fever (febrile neutropenia), to lower the chance of infection.
• Acute myeloid leukemia (AML): people with AML (a blood cancer) who have low white blood cells and fever after induction or consolidation chemotherapy (the first and follow-up rounds of treatment).
• Bone marrow transplant: people with non-myeloid cancers who get very strong chemotherapy followed by a bone marrow transplant, for the low white blood cells that follow.
• Collecting stem cells: people who will have their own blood stem cells collected from the blood (leukapheresis) for later treatment; Neupogen moves these cells from the bone marrow into the blood.
• Severe chronic neutropenia: adults and children with symptoms of long-term low white blood cells that is congenital (present from birth), cyclic (comes and goes) or idiopathic (no known cause).
• Acute radiation syndrome: people suddenly exposed to radiation doses high enough to harm the bone marrow (hematopoietic syndrome of acute radiation syndrome), including children.

A prescription is required. Your prescriber decides whether Neupogen is right for you.

IV infusion, given by a healthcare professional. When your prescriber agrees it can be given at home, we send a skilled nurse from an accredited nursing agency to give it.

Injection under the skin, given by a healthcare professional, or you or a caregiver after training. A nurse can show you or a caregiver how to give it.

Storage: Keep it in the refrigerator in its original carton to protect it from light. Keep it out of direct sunlight, avoid freezing it, and do not shake it.

Before the first dose, your prescriber may ask for:

• for severe chronic neutropenia: blood counts over time and a bone marrow test to confirm the diagnosis
• after radiation exposure: a complete blood count (CBC), as long as it does not delay treatment

Read the Medication Guide and the full Neupogen prescribing information, and ask your prescriber or our pharmacists about side effects. Our pharmacists are on call 24 hours a day.

Health plans often require prior authorization for Neupogen. Our intake team checks your coverage and works with your prescriber’s office on the paperwork before your first delivery.

The manufacturer runs a support program, Amgen SupportPlus, that may help eligible patients with costs and access.

Offices can call (844) 671-2600 or fax a referral to (844) 671-2601. Use the Oncology Referral Form (PDF).

The manufacturer also publishes Amgen SupportPlus resources for Neupogen, including a benefits verification form.