​FDA Approved The Use Of Filgrastim For Radiation Exposure Treatment

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) registered filgrastim for the treatment of the effects of radiation exposure in case of nuclear incident. Filgrastim became the first drug for the treatment of acute radiation syndrome approved for use.

As the results of laboratory tests using high doses of radiation, filgrastim has a protective effect on the white blood cells and increases the survival rate significantly. FDA decision was based on the results of preclinical studies on animal models, as tests on volunteers are unethical.

Filgrastim is a stimulant of hematopoiesis promoting increased production of white blood cells. The drug has entered the U.S. market thanks to Amgen in 1991. It is used to reduce the risk of infections among patients undergoing chemotherapy.