About Biosimilars | Nivestym® (filgrastim-aafi) Site | Safety Info
What are biosimilars?
Biosimilars are highly similar to the original biologics. Although it is impossible to produce an identical copy of any biologic medicine, a biosimilar must be proven to show no clinically meaningful differences from a reference product.
Do biosimilars have the same side effects and safety profile as the reference products?
Biosimilars must demonstrate that they have no clinically meaningful differences from their reference products in terms of safety and effectiveness. They are expected to work the same way as the original medicines.
How long have biosimilars been available?
The first biosimilar was approved in the United States in 2015.
Pfizer is committed to helping patients worldwide by developing and delivering high-quality biosimilar medications to patients who need them.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION AND INDICATIONS
Do not take NIVESTYM® if you have had a serious allergic reaction to human granulocyte-colony stimulating factors (G-CSFs) such as filgrastim products or pegfilgrastim products.
Before you take NIVESTYM®, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- have a sickle cell disorder
- have kidney problems
- are receiving radiation therapy
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if NIVESTYM® will harm your unborn baby
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if NIVESTYM® passes into your breast milk
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
How will I receive NIVESTYM®?
- NIVESTYM® injections can be given by a healthcare provider by intravenous (IV) infusion or under your skin (subcutaneous injection). Your healthcare provider may decide that subcutaneous injections can be given at home by you or your caregiver. If NIVESTYM® is given at home, see the detailed “Instructions for Use” that comes with your NIVESTYM® prescription for information on how to prepare and inject a dose of NIVESTYM®
- Your healthcare provider should show you and your caregiver how to prepare and inject NIVESTYM® before you use it
- You should not try to inject a dose of NIVESTYM® less than 0.3 mL (180 mcg) from a NIVESTYM® prefilled syringe. A dose less than 0.3 mL cannot be accurately measured using the NIVESTYM® prefilled syringe
- Your healthcare provider will tell you how much NIVESTYM® to inject and when to inject it. Do not change your dose or stop NIVESTYM® unless your healthcare provider tells you
- If you are receiving NIVESTYM® because you are also receiving chemotherapy, your dose of NIVESTYM® should be injected at least 24 hours before or 24 hours after your dose of chemotherapy. Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to monitor your white blood cell count, and if necessary, adjust your NIVESTYM® dose
- If you miss a dose of NIVESTYM®, talk to your healthcare provider about when you should have your next dose
What are the possible side effects of NIVESTYM®?
NIVESTYM® may cause serious side effects, including:
- Spleen rupture. Your spleen may become enlarged and can rupture. A ruptured spleen can cause death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have pain in the left upper stomach (abdomen) area or your left shoulder
- A serious lung problem called acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Call your healthcare provider or get emergency medical help right away if you have shortness of breath with or without a fever, trouble breathing, or a fast rate of breathing
- Serious allergic reactions. NIVESTYM® can cause serious allergic reactions. These reactions can cause a rash over your whole body, shortness of breath, wheezing, dizziness, swelling around your mouth or eyes, fast heart rate, and sweating. If you have any of these symptoms, stop using NIVESTYM® and call your healthcare provider or get emergency medical help right away
- Sickle cell crises. You may have a serious sickle cell crisis, which could lead to death, if you have a sickle cell disorder and receive NIVESTYM®. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have symptoms of sickle cell crisis such as pain or difficulty breathing
- Kidney injury (glomerulonephritis). NIVESTYM® can cause kidney injury. Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop any of the following symptoms:
- swelling of your face or ankles
- blood in your urine or dark-colored urine
- you urinate less than usual
- Capillary leak syndrome. NIVESTYM® can cause fluid to leak from blood vessels into your body’s tissues. This condition is called “capillary leak syndrome” (CLS). CLS can quickly cause you to have symptoms that may become life threatening. Get emergency medical help right away if you develop any of the following symptoms:
- swelling or puffiness and are urinating less than usual
- trouble breathing
- swelling of your stomach area (abdomen) and feeling of fullness
- dizziness or feeling faint
- a general feeling of tiredness
- Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML):
- NIVESTYM® may increase the risk of developing a precancerous condition called MDS or a type of blood cancer called AML in people who were born with low white blood cell counts (congenital neutropenia)
- If you have breast cancer or lung cancer, when NIVESTYM® is used with chemotherapy and radiation therapy, or with radiation therapy only, you may have an increased risk of developing MDS or AML
- Symptoms of MDS and AML may include tiredness, fever, and easy bruising or bleeding
- Call your healthcare provider if you develop any of these symptoms during treatment with NIVESTYM®
- Decreased platelet count (thrombocytopenia). Your healthcare provider will check your blood during treatment with NIVESTYM®. Tell your healthcare provider if you have unusual bleeding or bruising during treatment with NIVESTYM®. This could be a sign of decreased platelet counts, which may reduce the ability of your blood to clot
- Increased white blood cell count (leukocytosis). Your healthcare provider will check your blood during treatment with NIVESTYM®
- Inflammation of your blood vessels (cutaneous vasculitis). Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop purple spots or redness of your skin
- Inflammation of the aorta (aortitis). Inflammation of the aorta (the large blood vessel which transports blood from the heart to the body) has been reported in patients who received NIVESTYM®. Symptoms may include fever, abdominal pain, feeling tired, and back pain. Call your healthcare provider if you experience these symptoms
The most common side effects experienced in patients receiving NIVESTYM® include:
- Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy: fever, pain, rash, cough, and shortness of breath
- Patients with AML receiving chemotherapy: pain, nose bleed, and rash
- Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy followed by bone marrow transplant: rash
- Patients who are having their own blood cells collected: bone pain, fever, and headache
- Patients with severe chronic neutropenia: pain, decreased red blood cells, nose bleed, diarrhea, reduced sensation, and hair loss
These are not all the possible side effects of NIVESTYM®. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects.
You are encouraged to report adverse events related to Pfizer products by calling 1-800-438-1985 (US only). If you prefer, you may contact the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) directly. Visit www.fda.gov/MedWatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
INDICATIONS
Patients With Cancer Receiving Myelosuppressive Chemotherapy
- NIVESTYM® is indicated to decrease the incidence of infection‚ as manifested by febrile neutropenia‚ in patients with nonmyeloid malignancies receiving myelosuppressive anti-cancer drugs associated with a significant incidence of severe neutropenia with fever
Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia Receiving Induction or Consolidation Chemotherapy
- NIVESTYM® is indicated for reducing the time to neutrophil recovery and the duration of fever, following induction or consolidation chemotherapy treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
Patients With Cancer Undergoing Bone Marrow Transplantation
- NIVESTYM® is indicated to reduce the duration of neutropenia and neutropenia-related clinical sequelae‚ eg, febrile neutropenia, in patients with nonmyeloid malignancies undergoing myeloablative chemotherapy followed by bone marrow transplantation
Patients Undergoing Autologous Peripheral Blood Progenitor Cell Collection and Therapy
- NIVESTYM® is indicated for the mobilization of autologous hematopoietic progenitor cells into the peripheral blood for collection by leukapheresis
Patients With Severe Chronic Neutropenia
- NIVESTYM® is indicated for chronic administration to reduce the incidence and duration of sequelae of neutropenia (eg‚ fever‚ infections‚ oropharyngeal ulcers) in symptomatic patients with congenital neutropenia‚ cyclic neutropenia‚ or idiopathic neutropenia
Please see full Prescribing Information and Patient Information for NIVESTYM®.
NIVESTYM is a registered trademark of Pfizer Inc.
Neupogen is a registered trademark of Amgen Inc.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION AND INDICATIONS
Do not take NIVESTYM® if you have had a serious allergic reaction to human granulocyte-colony stimulating factors (G-CSFs) such as filgrastim products or pegfilgrastim products.
Before you take NIVESTYM®, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- have a sickle cell disorder
- have kidney problems
- are receiving radiation therapy
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if NIVESTYM® will harm your unborn baby
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if NIVESTYM® passes into your breast milk
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
How will I receive NIVESTYM®?
- NIVESTYM® injections can be given by a healthcare provider by intravenous (IV) infusion or under your skin (subcutaneous injection). Your healthcare provider may decide that subcutaneous injections can be given at home by you or your caregiver. If NIVESTYM® is given at home, see the detailed “Instructions for Use” that comes with your NIVESTYM® prescription for information on how to prepare and inject a dose of NIVESTYM®
- Your healthcare provider should show you and your caregiver how to prepare and inject NIVESTYM® before you use it
- You should not try to inject a dose of NIVESTYM® less than 0.3 mL (180 mcg) from a NIVESTYM® prefilled syringe. A dose less than 0.3 mL cannot be accurately measured using the NIVESTYM® prefilled syringe
- Your healthcare provider will tell you how much NIVESTYM® to inject and when to inject it. Do not change your dose or stop NIVESTYM® unless your healthcare provider tells you
- If you are receiving NIVESTYM® because you are also receiving chemotherapy, your dose of NIVESTYM® should be injected at least 24 hours before or 24 hours after your dose of chemotherapy. Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to monitor your white blood cell count, and if necessary, adjust your NIVESTYM® dose
- If you miss a dose of NIVESTYM®, talk to your healthcare provider about when you should have your next dose
What are the possible side effects of NIVESTYM®?
NIVESTYM® may cause serious side effects, including:
- Spleen rupture. Your spleen may become enlarged and can rupture. A ruptured spleen can cause death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have pain in the left upper stomach (abdomen) area or your left shoulder
- A serious lung problem called acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Call your healthcare provider or get emergency medical help right away if you have shortness of breath with or without a fever, trouble breathing, or a fast rate of breathing
- Serious allergic reactions. NIVESTYM® can cause serious allergic reactions. These reactions can cause a rash over your whole body, shortness of breath, wheezing, dizziness, swelling around your mouth or eyes, fast heart rate, and sweating. If you have any of these symptoms, stop using NIVESTYM® and call your healthcare provider or get emergency medical help right away
- Sickle cell crises. You may have a serious sickle cell crisis, which could lead to death, if you have a sickle cell disorder and receive NIVESTYM®. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have symptoms of sickle cell crisis such as pain or difficulty breathing
- Kidney injury (glomerulonephritis). NIVESTYM® can cause kidney injury. Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop any of the following symptoms:
- swelling of your face or ankles
- blood in your urine or dark-colored urine
- you urinate less than usual
- Capillary leak syndrome. NIVESTYM® can cause fluid to leak from blood vessels into your body’s tissues. This condition is called “capillary leak syndrome” (CLS). CLS can quickly cause you to have symptoms that may become life threatening. Get emergency medical help right away if you develop any of the following symptoms:
- swelling or puffiness and are urinating less than usual
- trouble breathing
- swelling of your stomach area (abdomen) and feeling of fullness
- dizziness or feeling faint
- a general feeling of tiredness
- Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML):
- NIVESTYM® may increase the risk of developing a precancerous condition called MDS or a type of blood cancer called AML in people who were born with low white blood cell counts (congenital neutropenia)
- If you have breast cancer or lung cancer, when NIVESTYM® is used with chemotherapy and radiation therapy, or with radiation therapy only, you may have an increased risk of developing MDS or AML
- Symptoms of MDS and AML may include tiredness, fever, and easy bruising or bleeding
- Call your healthcare provider if you develop any of these symptoms during treatment with NIVESTYM®
- Decreased platelet count (thrombocytopenia). Your healthcare provider will check your blood during treatment with NIVESTYM®. Tell your healthcare provider if you have unusual bleeding or bruising during treatment with NIVESTYM®. This could be a sign of decreased platelet counts, which may reduce the ability of your blood to clot
- Increased white blood cell count (leukocytosis). Your healthcare provider will check your blood during treatment with NIVESTYM®
- Inflammation of your blood vessels (cutaneous vasculitis). Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop purple spots or redness of your skin
- Inflammation of the aorta (aortitis). Inflammation of the aorta (the large blood vessel which transports blood from the heart to the body) has been reported in patients who received NIVESTYM®. Symptoms may include fever, abdominal pain, feeling tired, and back pain. Call your healthcare provider if you experience these symptoms
The most common side effects experienced in patients receiving NIVESTYM® include:
- Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy: fever, pain, rash, cough, and shortness of breath
- Patients with AML receiving chemotherapy: pain, nose bleed, and rash
- Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy followed by bone marrow transplant: rash
- Patients who are having their own blood cells collected: bone pain, fever, and headache
- Patients with severe chronic neutropenia: pain, decreased red blood cells, nose bleed, diarrhea, reduced sensation, and hair loss
These are not all the possible side effects of NIVESTYM®. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects.
You are encouraged to report adverse events related to Pfizer products by calling 1-800-438-1985 (US only). If you prefer, you may contact the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) directly. Visit www.fda.gov/MedWatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
INDICATIONS
Patients With Cancer Receiving Myelosuppressive Chemotherapy
- NIVESTYM® is indicated to decrease the incidence of infection‚ as manifested by febrile neutropenia‚ in patients with nonmyeloid malignancies receiving myelosuppressive anti-cancer drugs associated with a significant incidence of severe neutropenia with fever
Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia Receiving Induction or Consolidation Chemotherapy
- NIVESTYM® is indicated for reducing the time to neutrophil recovery and the duration of fever, following induction or consolidation chemotherapy treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
Patients With Cancer Undergoing Bone Marrow Transplantation
- NIVESTYM® is indicated to reduce the duration of neutropenia and neutropenia-related clinical sequelae‚ eg, febrile neutropenia, in patients with nonmyeloid malignancies undergoing myeloablative chemotherapy followed by bone marrow transplantation
Patients Undergoing Autologous Peripheral Blood Progenitor Cell Collection and Therapy
- NIVESTYM® is indicated for the mobilization of autologous hematopoietic progenitor cells into the peripheral blood for collection by leukapheresis
Patients With Severe Chronic Neutropenia
- NIVESTYM® is indicated for chronic administration to reduce the incidence and duration of sequelae of neutropenia (eg‚ fever‚ infections‚ oropharyngeal ulcers) in symptomatic patients with congenital neutropenia‚ cyclic neutropenia‚ or idiopathic neutropenia
Please see full Prescribing Information and Patient Information for NIVESTYM®.
NIVESTYM is a registered trademark of Pfizer Inc.
Neupogen is registered a trademark of Amgen Inc.