The purpose of the study was to evaluate the adsorption of filgrastim on infusion sets (comprising infusion bag, line and filter) and to compare the adsorption of the original filgrastim preparation with biosimilar preparations using HPLC. The inhibitory effect of polysorbate 80 on this adsorption was also evaluated. Filgrastim was mixed with isotonic sodium chloride solution or 5% (w/v) glucose solution in the infusion fluid. Filgrastim adsorption on infusion sets was observed with all preparations and with both types of infusion solution. The adsorption ratio was about 30% in all circumstances. Filgrastim adsorption on all parts of the infusion set (bag, line and filter) was dramatically decreased by the addition of polysorbate 80 solution at concentrations at or over its critical micelle concentration (CMC). The filgrastim adsorption ratio was highest at a solution pH of 5.65, which is the isoelectric point (pI) of filgrastim. This study showed that the degree of filgrastim adsorption on infusion sets is similar for original and biosimilar preparations, but that the addition of polysorbate 80 to the infusion solution at concentrations at or above its CMC is effective in preventing filgrastim adsorption. The addition of a total-vitamin preparation with a polysorbate 80 concentration over its CMC may be an effective way of preventing filgrastim adsorption on infusion sets.
Key words filgrastim; adsorption; infusion set; polysorbate 80The Japanese government now actively promotes the use of generic drugs in order to reduce national medical expenditure.1) As part of the drive to reduce health costs, biosimilar preparations are also beginning to be used in clinical practice in place of original biologicals. However, there are growing concerns about switching from the original preparation to biosimilar preparations in clinical practice.2) In contrast to generic preparations, it is widely considered to be impossible to make biosimilar preparations with identical biophysical properties to the original preparations. The uptake of biosimilar preparations has not been as rapid as the change to generic preparations as switching to a biosimilar preparation does not result in as much cost savings as switching to a generic preparation, bio-pharmaceuticals also being covered by high-cost illness insurance.Filgrastim is a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor used to treat neutropenia. Generally, filgrastim is administered subcutaneously but in patients with a known bleeding disorder, intravenous infusions may be required. In previous reports, original and biosimilar preparations of filgrastim have been shown to have similar clinical effects. [3][4][5] In previous reports, it has been demonstrated that protein preparations, such as insulin, adsorb to infusion sets, 6-8) and filgrastim adsorption on infusion sets has also been reported.9-13) Thus, it is possible that the actual dose of filgrastim infused will be smaller than the theoretical dose predicted. Yagi and Kawa have also found that differences in flow rate affect the ...