Comparing efficacy and side effects of Pd-Grastim and Neupogen for prevention of neutropenia after chemotherapy in children

Background: G-CSF is one of the new medications that may reduce duration and severity of neutropenia after chemotherapy. Two forms of G-CSF are now available in Iran: Neupogen (original form), and new production of Iran named Pd-Grastin. We decided to compare the efficacy and side effects of these two forms of the drug.
Methods: Absolute Neutrophil count (ANC), total WBC, platelet count (on the 15th day of chemotherapy), and event of fever and neutropenia in this period, were measured after 60 courses of chemotherapy and 4 days of G-CSF, in two separate but the same patients groups, Pd-Grastim (group 1) and Neupogen (group 2).
Findings: Mean values of WBC count, ANC, and platelet count were similar (P.V.>0.05). No significant difference was observed for episodes of neutropenia (ANC<500), event of fever and neutropenia, and days of hospitalization between these groups. Effectiveness and also side effects of Pd-Grastin and Neupogen were similar. Lower cost of Pd-Grastim was the only significant difference between these two forms of G-CSF.
Conclusion: Pd-Grastim may be preferred to Neupogen in Iran, because of the same effectiveness but lower cost.