FDA Approves Promacta(R) (Eltrombopag), the First Oral Medication to Increase Platelet Production for People With Serious Blood Disorder

GlaxoSmithKline has announced that the FDA granted accelerated approval for PROMACTA(R) (eltrombopag) for the treatment of thrombocytopenia in patients with chronic immune (idiopathic) thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) who have had an insufficient response to corticosteroids, immunoglobulins or splenectomy. The approval is a significant milestone for PROMACTA and the ITP community, as PROMACTA is the first oral thrombopoietin (TPO) receptor agonist approved for adult patients with chronic ITP. GSK expects PROMACTA to be available by the next week. “It is very important for chronic ITP patients to have new treatment options to manage the symptoms of this serious and, at times, life-threatening disease. In addition, many people with chronic ITP are concerned about everyday activities for fear of an accidental bump or unanticipated bruise that may lead to bleeding,” said Craig Conway, executive director of the Platelet Disorder Support Association. “The approval of this new product represents a promising new treatment option that offers hope to the ITP community.”

Shift in Approach

“Preventing platelet destruction has always been the primary means of treating patients with ITP. Recent advances, like the clinical trials of PROMACTA, show that increasing the production of platelets may also play a significant role in treating this disorder,” said James Bussel, M.D., director of the Platelet Disorders Center, Children’s Cancer and Blood Foundation Division of New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. “The entire ITP community, including physicians, patients and their families, may benefit from this shift in thinking and these innovative new treatments.” The new drug application for PROMACTA was supported by the largest database of randomized clinical trial information on investigational therapies for chronic ITP patients. The indication is based on data from two pivotal studies in the short term treatment and one ongoing long-term treatment study of patients with chronic ITP. “The approval of PROMACTA affirms our commitment to hematology and oncology research, and demonstrates our dedication to developing truly innovative therapies for patients,” said Paolo Paoletti, M.D., Senior Vice President of the Oncology Medicine Development Center at GSK. “PROMACTA is a significant step forward in helping patients and physicians better manage the challenges of chronic ITP.” The approval of PROMACTA was supported by an unanimous decision by the FDA’s Oncology Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) on May 30, 2008, in which the panel voted, 16-0, that PROMACTA demonstrated a favorable risk-benefit profile for the short-term treatment of patients with chronic ITP.