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FDA Extends Use of Eltrombopag in Young Children With ITP

Efficacy and safety of eltrombopag in paediatric patients with chronic ITP was evaluated in two double-blind, placebo-controlled trials
26 Aug 2015
Cancer in Special Situations/ Populations;  Cytotoxic Therapy
Haematological Malignancies

On 24 August, 2015 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved eltrombopag (Promacta) to treat low platelet count in paediatric patients – ages one year and older – with a rare blood disorder, chronic immune thrombocytopaenic purpura (ITP). Promacta can be used in these children when they have not achieved an appropriate response using other ITP medicines or surgery to remove the spleen.

ITP is a disorder that results in an abnormally low number of platelets. Without enough platelets, bleeding can occur under the skin, in mucous membranes or in other parts of the body.

“Today’s approval of Promacta emphasizes the FDA’s commitment to fully developing treatments in areas of pediatric hematology and oncology,” said Dr Richard Pazdur, director of the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “This new use in ages one and up builds on a recent approval for ages six years and up, and fills an unmet need for young children whose disease has progressed after use of other available treatments.”

Promacta helps increase blood platelet production and is available as a tablet taken once-daily or as a powder that is mixed with liquid for children ages one to five to take orally. It was first approved in 2008 to treat adult patients with the same condition as the new paediatric indication.

Promacta should be used only in patients with ITP whose degree of thrombocytopaenia and clinical condition increase the risk for bleeding.

The efficacy and safety of Promacta in paediatric patients ages one to 17 years with chronic ITP was evaluated in two double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of 159 participants where the primary endpoint was an increase in platelet counts.

In the first trial (n=67), patients were randomly assigned to receive either Promacta or placebo daily for seven weeks. Of those taking Promacta, 62% had an improvement in platelet counts without rescue therapy between weeks one and six, compared to 32% in the placebo group.

In the second trial (n=92), patients received either Promacta or placebo daily for 13 weeks and in those treated with Promacta, 41% experienced increased platelet counts for at least six out of eight weeks between weeks five to 12, compared to 3% of patients receiving placebo.

In both trials, patients taking Promacta also had less need for other treatments to increase their platelet counts, such as corticosteroids or platelet transfusions. Among patients taking one or more ITP medications at the start of the trials, about half were able to reduce or discontinue their use of these medications, primarily corticosteroids.

The most common side effects of treatment with Promacta in children ages one and older were infections of the upper respiratory tract or nose and throat (symptoms including fever, cough, nasal congestion, runny nose and sore throat), diarrhoea, abdominal pain, rash and increase in liver enzymes.

The safety and efficacy of Promacta in paediatric patients younger than one year with ITP, or in paediatric patients with thrombocytopaenia associated with chronic hepatitis C and severe aplastic anaemia, have not been established.

The FDA granted Promacta orphan drug designation because it treats a rare disease. Orphan drug designation provides financial incentives – like tax credits, user fee waivers, and eligibility for market exclusivity – to promote rare disease drug development.

Promacta is manufactured by Novartis in East Hanover, New Jersey.

Last update: 26 Aug 2015

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