Medicine
Pharmaceuticals
Product Number : 54482-301-01
Antineoplastic Agent
Indication
First Line Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Hypersensitivity to Asparaginase
Benefit
Oncaspar, with the generic name pegaspargase, is a PEGylated-l-asparaginase approved by the FDA in 1994. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia and chronic myelogenous leukemia are treated with this agent. It can also be used as a replacement in patients with leukemia who display hypersensitivity to E. coli-derived l-asparaginase. Oncaspar is beneficial as it is only administered every 2 weeks, while the native compound, l-asparaginase, must be administered three times per week. The less frequent administration of Oncaspar is simply the result of a longer half-life due to PEGylation. Furthermore, Oncaspar demonstrates decreased hypersensitivity and considerable total cost savings for patients.