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Hypersensitivity Reactions in Pediatric Leukemia Patients Comparatively Evaluated

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— 1 min read

Research from the Cohen Children's Medical Center has compared the safety and efficacy of two long-acting asparaginase formulations, calaspargase-pegol and pegaspargase, in pediatric leukemia patients. The study, which spanned three years, found that both formulations had similar rates of symptomatic hypersensitivity reactions and silent inactivation. However, calaspargase-pegol was found to require more conversions to short-acting asparaginase therapy than pegaspargase. Additionally, the study found a lower rate of hyperbilirubinemia with calaspargase-pegol compared to pegaspargase.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study included 103 pediatric leukemia patients, of whom 50 received calaspargase-pegol and 58 received pegaspargase.
  • Similar rates of symptomatic hypersensitivity reactions (20% vs. 10.3%) and silent inactivation (16% vs. 5.2%) were seen with calaspargase-pegol versus pegaspargase, respectively.
  • However, 13 patients in the calaspargase-pegol group required conversion to short-acting asparaginase compared with 6 patients in the pegaspargase group (26% vs. 10.3%).
  • The most common adverse effects were comparable between the two groups, except for a lower rate of hyperbilirubinemia with calaspargase-pegol compared with pegaspargase (34% vs. 58.6%).
  • The study concluded that additional monitoring and preventative measures should be utilized to prevent calaspargase-pegol-associated adverse effects.

Statistics:

  • 103 patients were included in the study, with 50 receiving calaspargase-pegol and 58 receiving pegaspargase.
  • 13 patients in the calaspargase-pegol group required conversion to short-acting asparaginase therapy compared with 6 patients in the pegaspargase group.
  • 20% of patients in the calaspargase-pegol group experienced symptomatic hypersensitivity reactions compared with 10.3% in the pegaspargase group.
  • 16% of patients in the calaspargase-pegol group experienced silent inactivation compared with 5.2% in the pegaspargase group.
  • 34% of patients in the calaspargase-pegol group experienced hyperbilirubinemia compared with 58.6% in the pegaspargase group.

Sources:

  • "Comparing Tolerability and Toxicity of Calaspargase-pegol and Pegaspargase In Pediatric Leukemia Patients." Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, 2025;47(7).
  • Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Two Commerce Sq, 2001 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA.
  • Cohen Children's Medical Center, Dept. of Pharmacy, 269-01 76TH Ave, New Hyde Park, NY 11040, United States.
  • NewsRx. Reports from Cohen Children's Medical Center Advance Knowledge in Hypersensitivity (Comparing Tolerability and Toxicity of Calaspargase-pegol and Pegaspargase In Pediatric Leukemia Patients). Hematology Week. October 27, 2025; p 466.

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