The FINANCIAL — Novartis announced on June 11 that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Promacta (eltrombopag) for the treatment of children six years and older with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) who have had an insufficient response to corticosteroids, immunoglobulins or splenectomy. Promacta was approved by the FDA in 2008 for use in adult patients with the same condition.
ITP affects as many as 5 in 100,000 children each year and is characterized by a low platelet count. Up to 30% of affected children experience persistent disease for more than 6 months and are diagnosed with chronic ITP. Pediatric patients with chronic ITP are at ongoing risk of significant bleeding, according to Novartis.
“Young patients with chronic ITP who have either an insufficient response to or side effects from standard therapies have limited treatment options, making this FDA approval of eltrombopag for children six years and older particularly important,” said James B. Bussel, MD, a professor of pediatrics, of pediatrics in obstetrics and gynecology and of pediatrics in medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, and lead study investigator of the PETIT study. “Through the eltrombopag studies, one of which is the largest randomized trial ever performed in children with chronic ITP, we discovered that Promacta – a treatment that can be taken once daily by mouth and shown to be well tolerated – can manage this disorder and help these young patients.”
The approval of Promacta was based on data from two double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, including the largest Phase III clinical trial in this patient population. Treatment with Promacta significantly increased and sustained platelet counts among some pediatric patients with chronic ITP, and some patients taking concomitant ITP medications were able to reduce or discontinue their use of these medications, primarily corticosteroids. Promacta should be used only in those whose degree of thrombocytopenia and clinical condition increase the risk for bleeding.
“Today’s FDA approval of Promacta for children with chronic ITP, a rare and potentially serious blood disorder, gives new hope to patients and their families,” said Bruno Strigini, President, Novartis Oncology. “All patients are important, but when we can help children, we are especially gratified. This approval underscores our expertise in benign hematologic disease and our commitment to provide treatments for rare diseases.”
Promacta is a once-daily oral thrombopoietin (TPO) receptor agonist that works by inducing stimulation and differentiation of megakaryocytes (large cells, found especially in bone marrow) from bone marrow stem cells to increase platelet production.
