Comparison of the physicochemical properties of a biosimilar filgrastim with those of reference filgrastim.

Recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (filgrastim) is a therapeutic protein used primarily to reduce incidence and duration of severe neutropenia and its associated, and serious, complications. We have developed a biosimilar filgrastim (Hospira filgrastim; Nivestim) designed to be comparable to Amgen filgrastim (Neupogen). An extensive characterization study assessed the physiochemical similarity of Hospira filgrastim to Amgen filgrastim.

Correlation of liquid chromatographic and biological assay for potency assessment of filgrastim and related impurities.

In vivo and in vitro potency assays have always been a critical tool for confirmation of protein activity. However, due to their complexity and time consuming procedures, it remains a challenge to find an alternative analytical approach that would enable their replacement with no impact on the quality of provided information. The goal of this research was to determine if a correlation between liquid chromatography assays and in vitro biological assay could be established for filgrastim (recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, rhG-CSF) samples containing various amounts of related impurities.