Oprelvekin is a form of recombinant interleukin-11 used to stimulate production of megakaryocytes and platelets in patients with or at risk of thrombocytopenia after chemotherapy. Oprelvekin, the active ingredient in Neumega®, is recombinant Interleukin-11 (IL-11), which is produced in Escherichia coli (E. coli) by recombinant DNA technology.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed
Oprelvekin binds to the interleukin 11 receptor which leads to a cascade of signal transduction events. Its pharmacological action mimics the biological activity of endogenous IL-11, which is a thrombopoietic growth factor that directly stimulates the proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells and megakaryocyte progenitor cells and induces megakaryocyte maturation resulting in increased platelet production.
- Primary indication
- Indicated for the prevention of severe thrombocytopenia and the reduction of the need for platelet transfusions following myelosuppressive chemotherapy in adult patients with nonmyeloid malignancies who are at high risk of severe thrombocytopenia.Curator reviewed · 1 structured indication
- Formula / weight
- C854H1411N253O235S2 · 19047.2 Da
- First approval
- United States, 1997
- Also known as
- IL-11 · Interleukin 11 · Interleukin-11 · Recombinant interleukin-11
- Code names
- YM 294
Resolves to
What you can answer from here — as of July 17, 2026
Which drugs share a target with Oprelvekin, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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