XM02 is superior to placebo and equivalent to Neupogen in reducing the duration of severe neutropenia and the incidence of febrile neutropenia in cycle 1 in breast cancer patients receiving docetaxel/doxorubicin chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSFs) such as Filgrastim are used to treat chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. We investigated a new G-CSF, XM02, and compared it to Neupogen after myelotoxic chemotherapy in breast cancer (BC) patients. METHODS: A total of 348 patients with BC receiving docetaxel/doxorubicin chemotherapy were randomised to treatment with daily injections (subcutaneous 5 microg/kg/day) for at least 5 days and a maximum of 14 days in each cycle of XM02 (n = 140), Neupogen (n = 136) or placebo (n = 72). The primary endpoint was the duration of severe neutropenia (DSN) in cycle 1. RESULTS: The mean DSN in cycle 1 was 1.1, 1.1, and 3.9 days in the XM02, Neupogen, and placebo group, respectively. Superiority of XM02 over placebo and equivalence of XM02 with Neupogen could be demonstrated. Toxicities were similar between XM02 and Neupogen. CONCLUSION: XM02 was superior to placebo and equivalent to Neupogen in reducing DSN after myelotoxic chemotherapy.