Aplastic Anemia
Drugs that are considered standard and investigational therapies for aplastic anemia are listed below, please click on their names for more information:
| Generic Name | Brand Name |
Alemtuzumab (Campath) is an antineoplastic or monocolonal antibody, a type of chemotherapy that inhibits or prevents the growth of diseased or cancerous cells by targeting the DNA. While alemtuzumab is approved by the FDA for treatment of certain types of leukemia, it is considered an investigational therapy for treatment of aplastic anemia. alemtuzumab
| (Campath) |
ATG (Atgam, Thymoglobulin) is an immunosuppressant, a drug therapy that reduces the body's natural immunity. It is approved by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating moderate to severe aplastic anemia patients. ATG is most commonly used with cyclosporine, an oral medicine. ATG/cyclosporine combination is sometimes used for treating myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), but is not nearly as effective against MDS as it is aplastic anemia. anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG, ALG)
| (Atgam, Thymoglobulin) |
Cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune) is an immunosuppressant, a drug that reduces the body's natural immunity. Cyclosporine is used along with anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG), another immunosuppressant, for treating aplastic anemia. cyclosporine
| (Neoral, Sandimmune) |
Cyclophosphamide is an alkylating agent, a class of chemotherapy drugs which interferes with the growth of diseased cells. While cyclophosphamide is used as a treatment for certain diseases it is still an investigational therapy in Phase II, in combination with other medications, for treatment of MDS, PNH, and aplastic anemia cyclophosphamide
| (Cytoxan) |
Daclizumab (Zenapax) is an immunosuppressant, a drug that reduces the body's natural immunity. It is approved by the FDA for use in many transplant patients to reduce the rate of organ rejection. Daclizumab is being studied in clinical trials for treating aplastic anemia. daclizumab
| (Zenapax) |
Darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp) promotes red blood cell production and is known as a growth factor. Growth factors are normal chemicals in the body that encourage the bone marrow to make blood cells. Growth factors have been manufactured as drugs to stimulate the bone marrow to produce more blood cells. darbepoetin alfa
| (Aranesp) |
Epoetin alfa (Epogen, Procrit) promotes red blood cell production in the bone marrow and is known as a growth factor. Growth factors are normal chemicals in the body that encourage the bone marrow to make blood cells. Growth factors have been manufactured as drugs to stimulate the bone marrow to produce more blood cells. epoetin alfa (Erythropoietin)
| (Epogen, Procrit) |
Filgrastim (G-CSF) and Sargramostim (GM-CSF) promote white cell growth in the bone marrow and are known as hematopoietic (blood forming) growth factors or colony stimulating factors. They are a man-made (synthetic) version of the colony stimulating factors produced naturally in your body. These drugs are prescribed "off label" for patients with MDS and other patients with low white cell counts (neutropenia). filgrastim (G-CSF)
| (Neupogen) |
Mycophenolate mofetil is an immunosuppressive agent, a drug that reduces the body's natural immunity in patients who receive organ transplants. It is currently in Phase II of the Food and Drug Adminstration's clinical trials for treatment of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) or aplastic anemia. mycophenolate mofetil
| (Cellcept) |
Prednisone, a corticosteroid, is a man-made (synthetic) version of a hormone produced naturally by your adrenal gland. It is prescribed when your body is not producing enough of this chemical on its own. prednisone
| (numerous names) |
Filgrastim (G-CSF) and Sargramostim (GM-CSF) promote white cell growth in the bone marrow and are known as hematopoietic (blood forming) growth factors or colony stimulating factors. They are a man-made (synthetic) version of the colony stimulating factors produced naturally in your body. These drugs are prescribed "off label" for patients with MDS and other patients with low white cell counts (neutropenia). sargramostim (GM-CSF)
| (Leukine) |
The information contained on these pages is not comprehensive. It should not be considered medical advice and does not take the place your physician's advice. Although AA&MDSIF strives to provide accurate and up-to-date information, it does not guarantee the accuracy or currency of this information.
