What is the Difference Between Neulasta and Neupogen

The key difference between Neulasta and Neupogen is that Neulasta is a prescription medication that stays in the system longer and is more effective, while Neupogen is a prescription medication that is short-acting and less effective.

Neulasta and Neupogen are prescription medicines that significantly reduce the risk of developing infections during chemotherapy in cancer patients. These medicines work by increasing the white blood cells known as neutrophils. Moreover, both these drugs have side effects, such as bone pain, so you should talk to an oncologist before taking them.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Neulasta 
3. What is Neupogen
4. Similarities – Neulasta and Neupogen
5. Neulasta vs Neupogen in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Neulasta vs Neupogen

What is Neulasta?

Neulasta is a prescription medication used to reduce infections in cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy. It is also known as pegfilgrastim. Neulasta is a PEGylated form of the recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF). Moreover, it is also analog to filgrastim (Neupogen). Neulasta was originally developed by a pharmaceutical company called Amgen. It is used to stimulate the bone marrow to produce more neutrophils to fight infections in a cancer patient who undergoes chemotherapy.

Neulasta has a more human half-life of 15 to 80 hours. Neulasta was first approved for medical use in the United States, European Union, and Australia in 2002. The medical uses of Neulasta are to decrease the incidence of infection in people with non-myeloid malignancies receiving myelosuppressive anticancer drugs. Myelosuppressive anticancer drugs are known to cause febrile neutropenia, which is decreased by Neulasta. Neulasta is generally given 24 hours after each chemotherapy cycle. Furthermore, the common side effects of Neulasta may include bone pain, pain in the arms or legs, injection site bruising, swelling, pain, redness, or a hard lump. In addition to that, rare serious side effects of taking Neulasta include breathing problems such as trouble breathing problems, shortness of breath, and fast breathing.

What is Neupogen?

Neupogen is a prescription medication used to reduce infections in cancer patients that is short-acting and less effective. This drug is also known as filgrastim. It is a medication used to treat a low neutrophil state that results from conditions like HIV/AIDS, following chemotherapy, radiation poisoning, or due to an unknown cause. Sometimes, it can be used to increase white blood cells (neutrophils) for gathering during leukapheresis. Moreover, this drug is normally given by injection into a vein or under the skin.

Neupogen has a human half-life of 3 to 4 hours. The common side effects of taking this drug may include fever, cough, chest pain, joint pain, vomiting, and hair loss. The severe side effects may include splenic rupture and allergic reactions. Furthermore, this drug was first approved to use in the United States in 1991. In addition, it is also on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines.

What are the Similarities Between Neulasta and Neupogen?

• Neulasta and Neupogen are prescription medicines that significantly reduce the risk of developing infections during chemotherapy in cancer patients.
• Both are recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (GCSFs).
• Both of them work by increasing the white blood cells called neutrophils.
• These drugs are given intravenously.
• They have common (bone pain) and severe side effects.

What is the Difference Between Neulasta and Neupogen?

Neulasta is a prescription medication that stays in the system longer and is more effective, while Neupogen is a prescription medication that is short-acting and less effective. Thus, this is the key difference between Neulasta and Neupogen. Furthermore, Neulasta has a more human half-life of 15 to 80 hours, while Neupogen has a human half-life of 3 to 4 hours.

The below infographic presents the differences between Neulasta and Neupogen in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Neulasta vs Neupogen

Neulasta and Neupogen are two medications used to significantly reduce the risk of developing infections during chemotherapy in cancer patients. They are biochemically recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (GCSFs). However, Neulasta stays in the system longer and is more effective, while Neupogen is short-acting and less effective. So, this is the key difference between Neulasta and Neupogen.

Reference:

1. “Neulasta.” European Medicines Agency, 20 Jan. 2022.
2. “Neupogen (Filgrastim Injection): Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Interactions, Warning.” RxList, RxList, 13 Jan. 2021.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Neupogen-and-box” By Shinowolf – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia

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