Jim Kaye, M.D.
ABSTRACT
Neumega (oprelvekin; interleukin 11) is the first platelet growth factor
to have been licensed anywhere in the world. Discovered in a collaboration
between Children's Hospital and Genetics Institute, Inc., Neumega is approved
in the U.S. to decrease the need for platelet transfusions in patients
undergoing myelosuppressive chemotherapy who are at high risk of developing
severe chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia.
Several unusual safety issues arose during the clinical development
of this multifunctional cytokine, including induction of a biochemical
"acute phase" response, hemodilutional anemia, and an increased risk of
atrial
arrhythmias. Other thrombopoietic growth factors still in clinical
development, including Amgen's "Megakaryocte Growth and Development Factor"
and Genentech/Pharmacia-Upjohn's "Thrombopoietin" have been associated
with other unexpected toxicities. The approaches to understanding
novel adverse events caused by thrombopoietic growth factors will be discussed.
Much work remains to design safer platelet growth factors and to develop
cancer therapies that do not cause severe myelosuppression.
If you have questions or comments about the Seminars or want to be included in a mailing list, please send an e-mail to Kathy Putnam.