Pegaspargase for acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics 37(944): 23-24
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-732X PMID: 7877556 Document Number: 449187
FDA approval has been granted to pegaspargase for the treatment of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who have had allergic reactions to asparaginase. The polyethylene glycol (PEG) conjugate of L-asparaginase is produced by Rhone-Poulenc Rorer under the brand name Oncaspar. Asparaginase derived from Escherichia coli is available commercially as Elspar; patients allergic to that formulation may be able to tolerate an investigational form derived from Erwinia chrysanthemi by Ogden Bioservices. Analysis of multidrug chemotherapy, pharmacodynamics, clinical trials, adverse effects, dosage, and cost suggests that pegaspargase causes fewer allergic reactions and has a longer circulating half-life than asparaginase.
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