The safety and efficacy of hematopoietic stem cell mobilization using biosimilar filgrastim in related donors

In April 2014, the Japan Society for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation started a prospective observational study entitled “A short-term follow-up investigation of related hematopoietic stem cell donors receiving biosimilar G-CSF to mobilize peripheral blood stem cells.” A total of 106 donors were registered from 25 transplant facilities through the end of March 2017. The study cohort consisted of 47 men and 58 women, and their median age was 38.5 years (range 15–65 years). The mean total count of collected CD34-positive cells/recipient body weight for all 106 donors was 4.40 ± 2.38 × 10 6/kg. The yield of CD34-positive cells was weakly correlated with donor age was observed. However, gender, WBC count on day 4, G-CSF dose reduction, type of apheresis device, collection speed, and treated blood volume had no significant impact on the collection efficacy of CD34-positive cells. The safety profile of biosimilar G-CSF was also acceptable: 126 adverse events in 73 donors were reported, but none was serious. The most common adverse events were low back pain, headache, and bone pain. This prospective study confirmed that biosimilar G-CSF had comparable efficacy and safety to reference G-CSF for CD34-positive cell mobilization in healthy related donors.