Calaspargase pegol (Asparlas)

Calaspargase pegol (Asparlas) is a chemotherapy medication that will be replacing pegaspargase (Oncaspar) for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in your child of 1 month to 21 years of age.

• Calaspargase pegol (Asparlas) works by breaking down a chemical called “asparagine” which is needed for your child’s body cells to stay alive. Normal cells can make asparagine themselves, while cancer cells can’t. Since cancer cells can’t make more asparagine, they die.
• If your child has been receiving pegaspargase (Oncaspar), Calaspargase (Asparlas) works the same way to get rid of cancer cells.

• Due to supply limitations, the makers of pegaspargase (Oncaspar) are restricting the use only to patients younger than 1 month and 22 years or older.
• Calaspargase (Asparlas) is FDA approved for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in patients 1 month to 21 years. But is not yet FDA approved for patients younger than 1 month and 22 years or older.
• If your child is younger than 1 month and 22 years or older, they will continue to be given pegaspargase (Oncaspar).

Both medicines are a mixture given into the vein for 2 hours.

• Both have been shown to have similar effectiveness in treating cancer. 
• Both are given at the same time points in cancer treatment.
• Both have the same possible side effects which can include:
  • Allergic reactions
  • High blood sugar 
  • Bleeding or blood clots
  • Inflammation (swelling and redness) of the pancreas which can cause both belly pain or vomiting
  • Liver damage which can cause yellowing of the eyes and skin

Important: Your child will receive other medicines like diphenhydramine and famotidine before the cancer medicine to have less reactions.

Calaspargase (Asparlas) stays in the body longer than pegaspargase (Oncaspar).