The Neulasta® FIRST STEP™ Program
The Neulasta® FIRST STEP™ Program provides financial support to all eligible patients with commercial insurance and a Neulasta® co-insurance or co-payment requirement.
Enrollment:
To confirm your eligibility and enroll in the program, please call the hotline at 1-888-4ASSIST (1-888-427-7478) or click here to access the Neulasta® FIRST STEP™ website
Assistance From Independent Nonprofit Co-pay Foundations
Patients who are commercially and government insured (including Medicare), but need financial assistance, can be referred to independent nonprofit co-pay foundations. Amgen makes donations to these foundations that, in turn, help qualifying insured patients with out-of-pocket costs, including co-payments and premiums, to cover the medicines they need.
Amgen Assist™ can help patients identify which co-pay foundations they may be qualified for, and provide referrals for these foundations. However, Amgen Assist™ cannot guarantee that a patient will receive assistance since these co-pay foundations are independent and not affiliated with Amgen. Each foundation has its own eligibility criteria which includes an evaluation of individual’s financial, medical, and insurance status.
For more information about co-pay support or referral to an independent co-pay foundation, call one of our coverage and reimbursement services specialists at 1-888-4ASSIST (1-888-427-7478).
Neulasta® is not indicated for the mobilization of peripheral blood progenitor cells for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Important Safety Information
Do not administer Neulasta® to patients with a history of serious allergic reactions to pegfilgrastim or filgrastim.
Splenic rupture, including fatal cases, can occur following the administration of Neulasta®. Evaluate for an enlarged spleen or splenic rupture in patients who report left upper abdominal or shoulder pain after receiving Neulasta®.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) can occur in patients receiving Neulasta®. Evaluate patients who develop fever and lung infiltrates or respiratory distress after receiving Neulasta® for ARDS. Discontinue Neulasta® in patients with ARDS.
Serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, can occur in patients receiving Neulasta®. The majority of reported events occurred upon initial exposure. Allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, can recur within days after the discontinuation of initial anti-allergic treatment. Permanently discontinue Neulasta® in patients with serious allergic reactions.
Severe sickle cell crises can occur in patients with sickle cell disorders receiving Neulasta®. Severe and sometimes fatal sickle cell crises can occur in patients with sickle cell disorders receiving filgrastim, the parent compound of pegfilgrastim.
The granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) receptor, through which pegfilgrastim and filgrastim act, has been found on tumor cell lines. The possibility that pegfilgrastim acts as a growth factor for any tumor type, including myeloid malignancies and myelodysplasia, diseases for which pegfilgrastim is not approved, cannot be excluded.
Bone pain and pain in extremity occurred at a higher incidence in Neulasta®-treated patients as compared with placebo-treated patients.
