Human granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is 125 amino acid protein with a molecular weight of 30 kDa. GM-CSF supports survival, clonal expansion and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells. It induces partially committed progenitor cells to divide and differentiate in the granulocyte macrophage pathways. GM-CSF also activates mature granulocytes and macrophages and has dose dependent effects on the myelomonocytic lineage. It induces various cellular responses like division, maturation and activation through binding to the specific receptors expressed on the cell surface of the target cells.

A biosimilar of Sargramostim was developed and marketed by Gennova in India under the brand name EMGRAST-M^®. Launched in 2007, the product is indicated for use in cancer patients following induction chemotherapy in acute myelogenous leukemia and following transplantation of autologous peripheral blood progenitor cells, myeloid reconstitution after autologous or allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, bone marrow transplantation failure or engraftment delay and in the treatment of chemotherapy or radiotherapy induced neutropenia.

EMGRAST-M^® is available in different formulation as EMGRAST-M^®-150, -250, -300 and -500 in a vial containing 150, 250, 300 and 500 µg of recombinant human GM-CSF expressed in yeast expression platform.