Agrylin is prescribed for the management of thrombocythemia and contains the active ingredient anagrelide. Thrombocythemia is a condition involving an elevated platelet count, and anagrelide is used in the haematological setting specifically to address that elevation. The brand is registered in 12 countries, a mid-range international footprint that reaches across several distinct regulatory regions rather than clustering in one.
The countries where Agrylin carries marketing authorisation include the United States, Australia, Russia, Taiwan, South Africa, and Canada — a spread that crosses North America, the Asia-Pacific, the post-Soviet space, and southern Africa. Within that footprint the indication is consistent: Agrylin is positioned as a therapy used in the management of elevated platelet counts, and the structured indication block further down this page reflects the registered uses recognised by national regulators in each market.
Travellers and expatriates living with thrombocythemia who rely on anagrelide-based therapy will sometimes find the same brand abroad and sometimes find the same active ingredient under a different commercial name. In countries outside the 12 listed, the molecule itself is in many cases still available, but distribution depends on the local formulary and on whether a generic manufacturer supplies that market. A local pharmacist or haematology specialist familiar with regional product availability is the right person to confirm what exists locally.
Because anagrelide is used for a chronic haematological condition rather than as a short-course therapy, continuity matters when crossing borders. Patients should not reorganise their treatment around what happens to be visible on a pharmacy shelf abroad. Any decision to start, continue, switch, or substitute Agrylin needs to be made together with a treating healthcare provider who knows the patient's haematological history.
At higher than recommended doses, this medicine has been shown to cause hypotension. There have been postmarketing case reports of intentional overdose with anagrelide hydrochloride. Reported symptoms include sinus tachycardia and vomiting. Symptoms resolved with supportive management.
Platelet reduction from anagrelide therapy is dose-related; therefore, thrombocytopenia, which can potentially cause bleeding, is expected from overdosage.
In case of overdosage, close clinical supervision of the patient is required; this especially includes monitoring of the platelet count for thrombocytopenia. Dosage should be stopped, as appropriate, until the platelet count returns to within the normal range.
None.
The following adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the labeling:
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
Clinical Studies In Adult PatientsIn three single-arm clinical studies, 942 patients diagnosed with myeloproliferative neoplasms of varying etiology (ET: 551; PV: 117; OMPN: 274) were exposed to anagrelide with a mean duration of approximately 65 weeks. Serious adverse reactions reported in these patients included the following: congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, cardiomegaly, complete heart block, atrial fibrillation, cerebrovascular accident, pericardial effusion , pleural effusion, pulmonary infiltrates, pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, and pancreatitis. Of the 942 patients treated with anagrelide, 161 (17%) were discontinued from the study because of adverse reactions or abnormal laboratory test results. The most common adverse reactions for treatment discontinuation were headache, diarrhea, edema, palpitations, common adverse reactions for treatment discontinuation were headache, diarrhea, edema, palpitations, and abdominal pain.
The most frequently reported adverse reactions to anagrelide (in 5% or greater of 942 patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms) in clinical trials were listed in Table 1.
Table 1 : Adverse Reactions Reported in Clinical
Studies in at least 5% of Patients
| Adverse reactions | %medicine_name% (N=942) (%) |
| Cardiac disorders | |
| Palpitations | 26% |
| T achycardia | 8% |
| Chest pain | 8% |
| General disorders and administration site conditions | |
| Asthenia | 23% |
| Edema | 21% |
| Pain | 15% |
| Fever | 9% |
| Peripheral edema | 9% |
| Malaise | 6% |
| Gastrointestinal disorders | |
| Diarrhea | 26% |
| Nausea | 17% |
| Abdominal pain | 16% |
| Vomiting | 10% |
| Flatulence | 10% |
| Anorexia | 8% |
| Dyspepsia | 5% |
| Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders | |
| Dyspnea | 12% |
| Cough | 6% |
| Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | |
| Rash | 8% |
| Pruritus | 6% |
| Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders | |
| Back pain | 6% |
| Nervous system disorders | |
| Headache | 44% |
| Dizziness | 15% |
| Paresthesia | 6% |
General disorders and administration site conditions: Flu symptoms, chills.
Cardiac disorders: Arrhythmia, angina pectoris, heart failure, syncope.
Vascular disorders: Hemorrhage, hypertension, postural hypotension, vasodilatation.
Gastrointestinal disorders: Constipation, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, gastritis.
Blood and lymphatic system disorders: Anemia, thrombocytopenia, ecchymosis.
Hepatobiliary disorders: Elevated liver enzymes.
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders: Arthralgia, myalgia.
Psychiatric disorders: Depression, confusion, nervousness.
Nervous system disorders: Somnolence, insomnia, amnesia, migraine headache.
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders: Epistaxis, pneumonia.
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: Alopecia.
Eye disorders: Abnormal vision, diplopia.
Ear and labyrinth disorders: Tinnitus
Renal and urinary disorders: Hematuria, renal failure.
Other Less Frequent Adverse Reactions (<1%) WereCardiac disorders: Ventricular tachycardia, supraventricular tachycardia.
Nervous system disorders: Hypoesthesia.
Clinical Study In Pediatric PatientsThe frequency of adverse events observed in pediatric patients was similar to adult patients. The most common adverse events observed in pediatric patients were fever, epistaxis, headache, and fatigue during the 3-month anagrelide treatment in the study. Episodes of increased pulse and decreased systolic or diastolic blood pressure beyond the normal ranges in the absence of clinical symptoms were observed. Adverse events that had been reported in these pediatric patients prior to the study and were considered to be related to anagrelide treatment based on retrospective review were; palpitations, headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, back pain, anorexia, fatigue, and muscle cramps.
Postmarketing ExperienceThe following adverse reactions have been identified during post-marketing use of %medicine_name%. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Cases of torsades de pointes, interstitial lung diseases (including allergic alveolitis, eosinophilic pneumonia and interstitial pneumonitis) , tubulointerstitial nephritis and clinically significant hepatotoxicity (including symptomatic ALT and AST elevations and elevations greater than three times the ULN) have been reported.
Other adverse events in pediatric patients reported in spontaneous reports and literature reviews include anemia, cutaneous photosensitivity and elevated leukocyte count.
%medicine_name% Capsules are indicated for the treatment of patients with thrombocythemia, secondary to myeloproliferative neoplasms, to reduce the elevated platelet count and the risk of thrombosis and to ameliorate associated symptoms including thrombo-hemorrhagic events.
In blood withdrawn from normal volunteers treated with anagrelide, a disruption was found in the postmitotic phase of megakaryocyte development and a reduction in megakaryocyte size and ploidy. At therapeutic doses, anagrelide does not produce significant changes in white cell counts or coagulation parameters, and may have a small, but clinically insignificant effect on red cell parameters. The active metabolite, 3-hydroxy anagrelide, has similar potency and efficacy to that of anagrelide in the platelet lowering effect; however, exposure (measured by plasma AUC) to 3-hydroxy anagrelide is approximately 2-fold higher compared to anagrelide. Anagrelide and 3-hydroxy anagrelide inhibit cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase 3 (PDE3) and 3-hydroxy anagrelide is approximately forty times more potent than anagrelide (IC50s = 0.9 and 36nM, respectively). PDE3 inhibition does not alter platelet production. PDE3 inhibitors, as a class can inhibit platelet aggregation. However, significant inhibition of platelet aggregation is observed only at doses of anagrelide higher than those typically required to reduce platelet count. PDE3 inhibitors have cardiovascular (CV) effects including vasodilation, positive inotropy and chronotropy.
Cardiac ElectrophysiologyThe effect of anagrelide dose (0.5 mg and 2.5 mg single doses) on the heart rate and QTc interval prolongation potential was evaluated in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-and active-controlled, cross-over study in 60 healthy adult men and women.
A dose-related increase in heart rate was observed, with the maximum increase occurring around the time of maximal drug concentration (0.5 – 4 hours). The maximum change in mean heart rate occurred at 2 hours after administration and was +7.8 beats per minute (bpm) for 0.5 mg and +29.1 bpm for 2.5 mg.
Dose-related increase in mean QTc was observed. The maximum mean (95% upper confidence bound) change in QTcI (individual subject correction) from placebo after baseline-correction was 7.0 (9.8) ms and 13.0 (15.7) ms following anagrelide doses of 0.5 mg and 2.5 mg, respectively.
Dose proportionality has been found in the dose range 0.5 mg to 2.5 mg.
AbsorptionFollowing oral administration of %medicine_name%, at least 70% is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. In fasted subjects, anagrelide peak plasma concentrations occur within about 1 hour after administration.
Pharmacokinetic data obtained from healthy volunteers comparing the pharmacokinetics of anagrelide in the fed and fasted states showed that administration of a 1 mg dose of anagrelide with food decreased the Cmax by 14%, but increased the AUC by 20%. Food decreased the Cmax of the active metabolite 3-hydroxy-anagrelide by 29%, although it had no effect on the AUC.
MetabolismAnagrelide is primarily metabolized by CYP1A2 to the active metabolite, 3-hydroxy-anagrelide, which is subsequently metabolized by CYP1A2 to the inactive metabolite, RL603. Less than 1% of the administered dose is recovered in the urine as anagrelide, and approximately 3% and 16-20% of the administered dose is recovered as 3-hydroxy-anagrelide and RL603, respectively.
EliminationAnagrelide and 3-hydroxy-anagrelide are eliminated with plasma half-lives of approximately 1.5 and 2.5 hours, respectively. Anagrelide and 3-hydroxy-anagrelide do not accumulate in plasma when the clinical dose regimens are administered.
Pregnancy Category C
Risk SummaryThere are no adequate and well-controlled studies with %medicine_name% in pregnant women. In animal embryo-fetal studies, delayed development (delayed skeletal ossification and reduced body weight) was observed in rats administered anagrelide hydrochloride during organogenesis at doses substantially higher than the maximum clinical dose of 10 mg/day. %medicine_name% should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
Animal DataAnagrelide hydrochloride was administered orally to pregnant rats and rabbits during the period of organogenesis at doses up to 900 mg/kg/day in rats and up to 20 mg/kg/day in rabbits (875 and 39 times, respectively, the maximum clinical dose of 10 mg/day based on body surface area). In rats, developmental delays were observed including reductions in fetal weight at 300 and 900 mg/kg/day and delays in skeletal ossification at doses of 100 mg/kg/day and higher. The dose of 100 mg/kg/day (600 mg/m²/day) in rats is approximately 97 times the maximum clinical dose based on body 2 surface area. No adverse embryo-fetal effects were detected in rabbits at the highest dose of 20 mg/kg/day (39 times the maximal clinical dose based on body surface area).
In a pre- and post-natal study conducted in female rats, anagrelide hydrochloride at oral doses of 60 mg/kg/day (58 times the maximum clinical dose based on body surface area) or higher produced delay or blockage of parturition, deaths of non-delivering pregnant dams and their fully developed fetuses, and increased mortality in the pups born.
In a placental transfer study, a single oral dose of [14C]-anagrelide hydrochloride was administered to pregnant rats on gestation Day 17. Drug-related radioactivity was detected in maternal and fetal tissue.
White, opaque capsule, containing 0.5 mg anagrelide (as anagrelide hydrochloride), imprinted with “ S 063” in black ink.
Storage And Handling%medicine_name% is available as:
0.5 mg, opaque, white capsules imprinted “S 063” in black ink: NDC 54092-063-01 = bottle of 100
Store at 25°C (77°F) excursions permitted to 15-30°C (59-86°F),. Store in a light resistant container.
Manufactured for Shire US Inc., 300 Shire Way, Lexington, MA 02421, USA. Revised: Dec 2015
Included as part of the PRECAUTIONS section.
PRECAUTIONS Cardiovascular ToxicityTorsades de pointes and ventricular tachycardia have been reported with anagrelide. Obtain a pretreatment cardiovascular examination including an ECG in all patients. During treatment with %medicine_name% monitor patients for cardiovascular effects and evaluate as necessary.
Anagrelide increases the QTc interval of the electrocardiogram and increases the heart rate in healthy volunteers.
Do not use %medicine_name% in patients with known risk factors for QT interval prolongation, such as congenital long QT syndrome, a known history of acquired QTc prolongation, medicinal products that can prolong QTc interval and hypokalemia.
Hepatic impairment increases anagrelide exposure and could increase the risk of QTc prolongation.
Monitor patients with hepatic impairment for QTc prolongation and other cardiovascular adverse reactions. The potential risks and benefits of anagrelide therapy in a patient with mild and moderate hepatic impairment should be assessed before treatment is commenced. Reduce %medicine_name% dose in patients with moderate hepatic impairment. Use of %medicine_name% in patients with severe hepatic impairment has not been studied.
In patients with heart failure, bradyarrhythmias, or electrolyte abnormalities, consider periodic monitoring with electrocardiograms .
Anagrelide is a phosphodiesterase 3 (PDE3) inhibitor and may cause vasodilation, tachycardia, palpitations, and congestive heart failure. Other drugs that inhibit PDE3 have caused decreased survival when compared with placebo in patients with Class III-IV congestive heart failure.
In patients with cardiac disease, use %medicine_name% only when the benefits outweigh the risks.
Bleeding RiskUse of concomitant anagrelide and aspirin increased major hemorrhagic events in a postmarketing study. Assess the potential risks and benefits for concomitant use of anagrelide with aspirin, since bleeding risks may be increased. Monitor patients for bleeding, including those receiving concomitant therapy with other drugs known to cause bleeding (e.g., anticoagulants, PDE3 inhibitors, NSAIDs, antiplatelet agents, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors).
Pulmonary ToxicityInterstitial lung diseases (including allergic alveolitis, eosinophilic pneumonia and interstitial pneumonitis) have been reported to be associated with the use of anagrelide in post-marketing reports. Most cases presented with progressive dyspnea with lung infiltrations. The time of onset ranged from 1 week to several years after initiating anagrelide. If suspected, discontinue %medicine_name% and evaluate. Symptoms may improve after discontinuation.
Nonclinical Toxicology Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of FertilityIn a two year rat carcinogenicity study a higher incidence of uterine adenocarcinoma, relative to controls, was observed in females receiving 30 mg/kg/day (at least 174 times human AUC exposure after a 1mg twice daily dose). Adrenal phaeochromocytomas were increased relative to controls in males receiving 3 mg/kg/day and above, and in females receiving 10 mg/kg/day and above (at least 10 and 18 times respectively human AUC exposure after a 1 mg twice daily dose).
Anagrelide hydrochloride was not mutagenic in the bacterial mutagenesis (Ames) assay or the mouse lymphoma cell (L5178Y, TK+/-) forward mutation assay, and was not clastogenic in the in vitro chromosome aberration assay using human lymphocytes or the in vivo mouse micronucleus test.
Anagrelide hydrochloride at oral doses up to 240 mg/kg/day (233 times the recommended human dose of 10 mg/day based on body surface area) had no effect on fertility and reproductive function of male rats. However, in fertility studies in female rats, oral doses of 30 mg/kg/day (29 times the recommended maximum human dose based on body surface area) or higher resulted in increased pre- and postimplantation loss and a decrease in the number of live embryos.
Use In Specific Populations PregnancyPregnancy Category C
Risk SummaryThere are no adequate and well-controlled studies with %medicine_name% in pregnant women. In animal embryo-fetal studies, delayed development (delayed skeletal ossification and reduced body weight) was observed in rats administered anagrelide hydrochloride during organogenesis at doses substantially higher than the maximum clinical dose of 10 mg/day. %medicine_name% should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
Animal DataAnagrelide hydrochloride was administered orally to pregnant rats and rabbits during the period of organogenesis at doses up to 900 mg/kg/day in rats and up to 20 mg/kg/day in rabbits (875 and 39 times, respectively, the maximum clinical dose of 10 mg/day based on body surface area). In rats, developmental delays were observed including reductions in fetal weight at 300 and 900 mg/kg/day and delays in skeletal ossification at doses of 100 mg/kg/day and higher. The dose of 100 mg/kg/day (600 mg/m²/day) in rats is approximately 97 times the maximum clinical dose based on body 2 surface area. No adverse embryo-fetal effects were detected in rabbits at the highest dose of 20 mg/kg/day (39 times the maximal clinical dose based on body surface area).
In a pre- and post-natal study conducted in female rats, anagrelide hydrochloride at oral doses of 60 mg/kg/day (58 times the maximum clinical dose based on body surface area) or higher produced delay or blockage of parturition, deaths of non-delivering pregnant dams and their fully developed fetuses, and increased mortality in the pups born.
In a placental transfer study, a single oral dose of [14C]-anagrelide hydrochloride was administered to pregnant rats on gestation Day 17. Drug-related radioactivity was detected in maternal and fetal tissue.
Nursing Mothers Risk SummaryIt is not known whether anagrelide is excreted in human milk. Anagrelide or its metabolites have been detected in the milk of lactating rats. Because many drugs are excreted into human milk and because of the potential for serious adverse reaction in nursing infants from anagrelide, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.
DataIn a rat milk secretion study, a single oral dose of [14C]-anagrelide hydrochloride was administered to lactating female rats on postnatal Day 10. Drug-related radioactivity was detected in the maternal milk and blood.
Pediatric UseExperience with %medicine_name% in pediatric patients was based on an open label safety and PK/PD study conducted in 18 pediatric patients aged 7-16 years with thrombocythemia secondary to ET. There were no apparent trends or differences in the types of adverse events observed between the pediatric patients compared with those of the adult patients.
Geriatric UseOf the 942 subjects in clinical studies of %medicine_name%, 42.1% were 65 years and over, while 14.9% were 75 years and over. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between these subjects and younger subjects, and other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in response between the elderly and younger patients, but greater sensitivity of some older individuals cannot be ruled out.
Hepatic ImpairmentHepatic metabolism is the major route of anagrelide clearance. Exposure to anagrelide is increased 8- fold in patients with moderate hepatic impairment and dose reduction is required. Use of %medicine_name% in patients with severe hepatic impairment has not been studied. The potential risks and benefits of anagrelide therapy in a patient with mild and moderate hepatic impairment should be assessed before treatment is commenced. Assess hepatic function before and during anagrelide treatment.
The recommended starting dosage of %medicine_name% is 0.5 mg four times daily or 1 mg twice daily.
Pediatric PatientsThe recommended starting dosage of %medicine_name% is 0.5 mg daily.
TitrationContinue the starting dose for at least one week and then titrate to reduce and maintain the platelet count below 600,000/μL, and ideally between 150,000/μL and 400,000/μL. The dose increment should not exceed 0.5 mg/day in any one week. Dosage should not exceed 10 mg/day or 2.5 mg in a single dose. Most patients will experience an adequate response at a dose of 1.5 to 3.0 mg/day. Monitor platelet counts weekly during titration then monthly or as necessary.
Dose Modifications For Hepatic ImpairmentIn patients with moderate hepatic impairment (Child Pugh score 7-9) start %medicine_name% therapy at a dose of 0.5 mg/day and monitor frequently for cardiovascular events. Patients with moderate hepatic impairment who have tolerated %medicine_name% therapy for one week may have their dose increased. The dose increase increment should not exceed 0.5 mg/day in any one week. Avoid use of %medicine_name% in patients with severe hepatic impairment.
Clinical Monitoring%medicine_name% therapy requires clinical monitoring, including complete blood counts, assessment of hepatic and renal function, and electrolytes.
To prevent the occurrence of thrombocytopenia, monitor platelet counts every two days during the first week of treatment and at least weekly thereafter until the maintenance dosage is reached. Typically, platelet counts begin to respond within 7 to 14 days at the proper dosage. In the clinical trials, the time to complete response, defined as platelet count ≤ 600,000/μL, ranged from 4 to 12 weeks. In the event of dosage interruption or treatment withdrawal, the rebound in platelet count is variable, but platelet counts typically will start to rise within 4 days and return to baseline levels in one to two weeks, possibly rebounding above baseline values. Monitor platelet counts frequently.
Aspirin: In two pharmacodynamic interaction studies in healthy subjects, co-administration of single-dose anagrelide 1 mg and aspirin 900 mg or repeat-dose anagrelide 1 mg once daily and aspirin 75 mg once daily showed greater ex vivo anti-platelet aggregation effects than administration of aspirin alone. Co-administered anagrelide 1mg and aspirin 900mg single-doses had no effect on bleeding time, prothrombin time (PT) or activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT).
Digoxin or warfarin: In vivo interaction studies in humans have demonstrated that anagrelide does not affect the pharmacokinetic properties of digoxin or warfarin, nor does digoxin or warfarin affect the pharmacokinetic properties of anagrelide.
Agrylin is used in the management of thrombocythemia, a haematological condition characterised by an elevated platelet count. The active ingredient anagrelide acts specifically within that haematological context. The structured indication section beneath this introduction lists the registered uses for Agrylin in the markets where it is sold, as recognised by the national regulators in each of those countries.
Agrylin contains anagrelide as its active substance. Anagrelide is a specialised haematology medication used in the treatment of elevated platelet counts. The same molecule circulates internationally under several brand names in addition to Agrylin, particularly in markets where generic manufacturers also supply anagrelide-containing products to the local formulary.
Agrylin is registered in 12 countries, distributed across several regions rather than concentrated in one. Examples include the United States, Australia, Taiwan, Russia, South Africa, Canada, and Israel. If your country is not among those listed in the structured data on this page, a local pharmacist can usually confirm whether anagrelide is available in that market under a different brand name.
Anagrelide is sold under more than one brand name internationally, particularly in markets where generic manufacturers supply the molecule alongside the originator. Because anagrelide is used in a specialised haematological setting, alternative products are not interchangeable without medical supervision. To identify a locally available anagrelide-containing product, search the active ingredient on Pill2Trip or ask a pharmacist or haematology specialist in your country.
Yes. Agrylin is a prescription medication used in the management of a chronic haematological condition, and treatment is calibrated to a patient's individual platelet profile, history, and concurrent medications. This is especially important for travellers and people relocating between countries, since prescription pathways and available brands of anagrelide vary between regulatory regimes. Any change should be made in consultation with the treating healthcare provider.
