Indications & Uses
Lenograstim is used in adults, adolescents and children older than 2 years. It has three uses. The first is to shorten how long neutropenia lasts in patients with non myeloid malignancy who are having myeloablative therapy followed by bone marrow transplantation (BMT), and who are thought to be at increased risk of prolonged severe neutropenia. Granocyte is also indicated for the same age groups. It is used to shorten the duration of severe neutropenia, and the complications that come with it, in patients having established cytotoxic therapy that carries a significant incidence of febrile neutropenia. Lenograstim also helps with mobilisation of peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPCs), both in patients and in healthy donors.
Pharmacology
Lenograstim is the glycosylated recombinant form of human granulocyte colony stimulating factor. After chemotherapy, it speeds up the recovery of neutrophils quite markedly, and this shows in clinical end-points such as how often laboratory-confirmed infection occurs and how long a patient stays in hospital. Patients on lenograstim have also been able to receive higher chemotherapy dose intensity, especially those with breast cancer or small cell lung cancer. Improvements in tumour response and survival, however, have not been demonstrated. Lenograstim also helps neutrophils recover in patients having a bone marrow transplant, and it stimulates the production of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs), which are used for autologous transfusion after aggressive chemotherapy.
Dosage Reference
Reference Information Only
Dosages shown are general references from official sources. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized dosing.
Adults:
Lenograstim should only be given together with an experienced oncology and/or haematology centre.
The recommended dose of Lenograstim is 19.2 MIU (150 µg) per m2 per day, which is therapeutically equivalent to 0.64 MIU (5 µg) per kg per day. This dose applies to peripheral stem cell or bone marrow transplantation, established cytotoxic chemotherapy, and PBPC mobilisation after chemotherapy.
The 13 million IU/mL strength can be used in patients with a body surface area up to 0.7 m2. The 34 million IU/mL strength can be used in patients with a body surface area up to 1.8 m2.
For PBPC mobilisation with Lenograstim alone, the recommended dose is 1.28 MIU (10 µg) per kg per day.
Elderly: clinical trials with Lenograstim have included a small number of patients up to the age of 70 years. Special studies have not been performed in the elderly, so specific dosage recommendations cannot be made.
Paediatric population: in children older than 2 years and in adolescents, the dose is the same as in adults. This applies when Lenograstim is used to reduce the duration of neutropenia after myeloablative therapy followed by BMT, or after cytotoxic chemotherapy.
Side Effects
Lenograstim can cause musculoskeletal pain, bone pain, an enlarged spleen, nausea, fever, thrombocytopenia, anaemia, nosebleed (epistaxis), headache, diarrhoea, dysuria, osteoporosis, cutaneous vasculitis, loss of appetite (anorexia), Sweet's syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis.
Cautions & Contraindications
Warnings & Precautions
Lenograstim should be given only to patients with neutropenia, or to people who need haematopoietic stem cells mobilized into the peripheral blood. While a patient is on lenograstim, blood tests should be done from time to time so that the neutrophil (WBC) count doesn't rise too much. If the count does go up excessively, the doctor should take suitable measures, including reducing the dose or stopping the medicine. Before starting lenograstim, a full medical history should be taken, including any history of allergies and drug hypersensitivity, so that a hypersensitivity reaction can be anticipated.
Contraindications
Lenograstim must not be given to anyone who is hypersensitive to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1. It should not be used to increase the dose intensity of cytotoxic chemotherapy beyond the established doses and dosage regimens, because the drug could reduce myelo-toxicity but not the overall toxicity of cytotoxic drugs. It should not be given at the same time as cytotoxic chemotherapy. Nor should it be given to patients with a myeloid malignancy other than de novo acute myeloid leukaemia, to patients with de novo acute myeloid leukaemia aged below 55 years, and/or to patients with de novo acute myeloid leukaemia with good cytogenetics.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
There isn't enough data on the use of lenograstim in pregnant women. Animal studies have shown reproductive toxicity, but the possible risk to humans is not known. So lenograstim should not be used during pregnancy unless it is clearly necessary.
It is not known whether lenograstim passes into human milk, and its excretion in milk has not been studied in animals. Breast-feeding should be stopped during treatment with lenograstim.
⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Storage
Keep Lenograstim in a cool, dry place.
Drug Interactions
Common questions about Granocyte
What is Granocyte SC Injection?
Granocyte SC Injection is a medicine that contains Lenograstim. It is made by Synovia Pharma PLC. It belongs to the Haematopoietic Agents group of medicines.
What is Granocyte used for?
Lenograstim is used in adults, adolescents and children older than 2 years. It has three uses.
What are the side effects of Granocyte?
Lenograstim can cause musculoskeletal pain, bone pain, an enlarged spleen, nausea, fever, thrombocytopenia, anaemia, nosebleed (epistaxis), headache, diarrhoea, dysuria, osteoporosis, cutaneous vasculitis, loss of appetite (anorexia), Sweet's syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis.
Can I take Granocyte during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?
There isn't enough data on the use of lenograstim in pregnant women. Animal studies have shown reproductive toxicity, but the possible risk to humans is not known. Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
How should I store Granocyte?
Keep Lenograstim in a cool, dry place.
Can I take other medicines with Granocyte?
Some medicines can interact with Lenograstim, for example: Cyclophosphamide, Bleomycin Sulfate. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about every medicine you take.
Do I need a prescription for Granocyte?
Granocyte is a prescription (Rx) medicine. Take it as your doctor advises.