Next-generation G-CSF for the Treatment of Neutropenia and Acute Radiation Syndrome

MAXY-G34 is a novel, pegylated granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) that has been developed to treat chemotherapy-induced neutropenia.  G-CSF is a natural protein that stimulates the body’s bone marrow to produce neutrophils, a specific type of white blood cell that plays an important role in the defense against bacterial infections.

Neutropenia is a severe decrease in neutrophil cell counts in the blood. Neutropenia is a common side effect of chemotherapeutic treatments for many forms of cancer, including breast cancer, lung cancer, lymphomas and leukemias. Neutropenic patients are at increased risk of contracting bacterial infections, some of which can be life threatening. Further, and most importantly, neutropenic patients may receive reduced or delayed chemotherapy treatment, which can result in cancer progression.

G-CSF products such as the MAXY-G34 product candidate may also have potential application in the treatment of acute radiation syndrome (ARS), an acute illness caused by irradiation of the entire body by a high dose of penetrating radiation in a very short period of time. A significant portion of the funding for the treatment of ARS to date has come from various government entities for the development of therapeutics as a medical countermeasure to nuclear terrorism and other radiological emergencies.

In May 2011, Maxygen submitted a proposal to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) for the development of the MAXY-G34 product candidate as a potential medical countermeasure for ARS. The submission is in response to a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA-10-100-SOL-00012) under which BARDA seeks to fund the advanced research and development of potential treatments for the sub-syndromes associated with ARS, including neutropenia.

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