Important Safety Considerations
Leukine® is contraindicated in patients with excessive leukemic myeloid blasts in bone marrow or peripheral blood (≥ 10%), in patients with known hypersensitivity to GM-CSF, yeast derived products or any component of Leukine, and for concomitant use with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. View additional Important Safety Information. View Indications.

GM-CSF Explained

Leukine® (sargramostim) is a GM-CSF (GM-CSF stands for granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor). A colony-stimulating factor (CSF) is a type of protein known as a growth factor that your body produces to help increase the number and function of your white blood cells (WBCs). GM-CSF is a type of CSF that increases the number and activity of neutrophils, monocytes/macrophages, and dendritic cells.

These three key WBCs provide protection from multiple types of foreign invaders, or pathogens, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses (the effect on viruses were demonstrated in a laboratory and not in live patients, so the significance of the information is considered to be unknown). Leukine helps reduce the incidence and severity of infections and death from infections in patients, especially those at increased risk (ie, older patients and transplantation patients).

Indication

Leukine® is indicated for the following uses: (i) following induction chemotherapy in older adult patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) to shorten time to neutrophil recovery; (ii) for mobilization and following transplantation of autologous peripheral blood progenitor cells; (iii) for myeloid reconstitution after autologous or allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT); (iv) for use in bone marrow transplantation failure or engraftment delay.

Important Safety Considerations

  • Leukine is contraindicated in patients with excessive leukemic myeloid blasts in bone marrow or peripheral blood (≥10%); in patients with known hypersensitivity to GM-CSF, yeast-derived products, or any component of Leukine; and for concomitant use with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
  • Serious allergic or anaphylactic reactions have been reported with Leukine. If any serious allergic or anaphylactic reactions occur, Leukine therapy should be immediately discontinued and appropriate therapy initiated.
  • Liquid solutions containing benzyl alcohol (including liquid Leukine) or lyophilized Leukine reconstituted with Bacteriostatic Water for Injection, USP (0.9% benzyl alcohol) should not be administered to neonates.
  • Leukine should be used with caution and monitored in patients with preexisting fluid retention, pulmonary infiltrates, or congestive heart failure, respiratory symptoms or disease; cardiac symptoms or disease; and renal or hepatic dysfunction.
  • Edema, capillary leak syndrome, pleural and/or pericardial effusion, sequestration of granulocytes in the pulmonary circulation, and dyspnea have been reported in patients after Leukine administration. Occasional transient supraventricular arrhythmia has been reported during Leukine administration. Leukine has induced the elevation of serum creatinine or bilirubin and hepatic enzymes in some patients. Monitoring of renal and hepatic function in patients with preexisting renal or hepatic dysfunction is recommended at least every other week during Leukine administration.
  • Adverse events occurring in >10% of patients receiving Leukine in controlled clinical trials and reported in a higher frequency than placebo were: in AML patients – (fever, skin reactions, metabolic disturbances, nausea, vomiting, weight-loss, edema, anorexia); in Autologous BMT patients – (asthenia, malaise, diarrhea, rash, peripheral edema, urinary tract disorder); and in Allogeneic BMT patients – (abdominal pain, chills, chest pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, hematemesis, dysphagia, GI hemorrhage, pruritus, bone pain, arthralgia, eye hemorrhage, hypertension, tachycardia, bilirubinemia, hyperglycemia, increased creatinine, hypomagnesemia, edema, pharyngitis, epistaxis, dyspnea, insomnia, anxiety, high BUN, and high cholesterol).
  • If ANC > 20,000 cells/mm3 or if platelet counts > 500,000/mm3, LEUKINE administration should be interrupted or the dose reduced by half. Twice weekly monitoring of CBC with differential should be performed.
  • Leukine therapy should be discontinued if disease progression is detected during treatment.

Please see full Prescribing Information.

To report suspected adverse events, contact Genzyme Corporation at 1-888-4RX-LEUKINE or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.