What is the Purpose of Filgrastim?

Filgrastim has been approved by the FDA to mobilize peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) for patients getting chemotherapy, bone marrow transplants and for patients with diseases causing very low white blood cell counts.

As part of the PBSC collection process, donors receive filgrastim for five days leading up to donation. Since the 1990s, the National Marrow Donor Program^® (NMDP) has been using filgrastim under our Investigational New Drug Application (IND) to stimulate the release of PBSC into a healthy donor’s bloodstream to aid in donation. All donors are fully informed of the potential risks and side effects of filgrastim as part of their informed consent process. For more information, visit the Steps of Donation tab and scroll to PBSC donation.