Molecule

Drug Groups

approved

Description

Plerixafor is a hematopoietic stem cell mobilizer. It is used to stimulate the release of stem cells from the bone marrow into the blood in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and multiple myeloma. These stem cells are then collected and used in autologous stem cell transplantation to replace blood-forming cells that were destroyed by chemotherapy. Plerixafor has orphan drug status in the United States and European Union; it was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on December 15, 2008.

Indication

Used in combination with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) to mobilize hematopoietic stem cells to the peripheral blood for collection and subsequent autologous transplantation in patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) and multiple myeloma (MM).

Pharmacology

Plerixafor increases circulating CD34+ cells in the peripheral blood, with a peak effect about 6-9 hours.

Absorption

Plerixafor is rapidly absorbed after subcutaneous injection (Tmax = 30-60 min).

Half Life

Terminal half-life ranges from 3 to 5 hours.

Protein Binding

Plerixafor is bound to human plasma proteins up to 58%.

Elimination

Approximately 70% of the parent drug is excreted in urine during first 24 h.

Distribution

The apparent volume of distribution of plerixafor is 0.3 L/kg.

References

External Links