Ancestim is a recombinant methionyl human stem cell factor, branded by

Amgen Amgen Inc. (formerly Applied Molecular Genetics Inc.) is an American multinational biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California. One of the world's largest independent biotechnology companies, Amgen was established in T ...

as StemGen. It was developed by Amgen and sold to Biovitrium, now Swedish Orphan Biovitrum, in December, 2008.Amgen press office
Biovitrum Closes Product Acquisition Deal with Amgen
It is a 166 amino acid protein produced by ''E. coli'' bacteria into which a gene has been inserted for soluble human stem cell factor. It has a monomeric molecular weight of approximately 18,500 daltons and normally exists as a noncovalently associated dimer. The protein has an

amino acid Amino acids are organic compounds that contain both amino and carboxylic acid functional groups. Although hundreds of amino acids exist in nature, by far the most important are the alpha-amino acids, which comprise proteins. Only 22 alpha a ...

sequence that is identical to the natural sequence predicted from human DNA sequence analysis, except for the addition of an N-terminal methionine retained after expression in ''E. coli''. Because Ancestim is produced in ''E. coli'', it is nonglycosylated. Ancestim is supplied as a sterile, white, preservative-free, lyophilised powder for reconstitution and administration as a subcutaneous (SC) injection and is indicated for use in combination with

filgrastim Filgrastim, sold under the brand name Neupogen among others, is a medication used to treat low neutrophil count. Low neutrophil counts may occur with HIV/AIDS, following chemotherapy or radiation poisoning, or be of an unknown cause. It may ...

for mobilizing peripheral hematopoietic stem cells for later transplantation in certain cancer patients.

References

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