According to a story from Market Screener, an analysis of real-world data (data gathered outside of the clinical setting) suggests that the drug eltrombopag, marketed as Revolade, offers substantial advantages over other second line therapies for immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Revolade was developed by the pharmaceutical company Novartis. The data suggets that the drug is able to reduce the number of bleeding episodes experienced by patients compared to other treatment options.
About Immune Thrombocytopenia
Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) describes a condition if abnormally low platelet count in bone marrow that is otherwise normal without any recognizable external cause. Platelets play an essential role in forming blood clots in order to halt wound bleeding. Immune thrombocytopenia is known as an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system mistakenly attacks parts of the body; antibodies that target surface antigens found on platelets are the telltale sign. Symptoms of the condition include purpura (small purplish skin rashes), excessive menstrual bleeding in women, bleeding from the gums and/or nose, small bruises called petechiae, and blood masses (hematomas) on mucosal surfaces. In severe cases of the condition, very low platelet counts can lead to potentially lethal internal bleeding. Treatment, which is usually only recommended when severe bleeding occurs, may include steroids, IVIg, surgical removal of the spleen, and platelet transfusion. To learn more about immune thrombocytopenia, click here.
Study Findings
The study looked at electronic health records from 2009 to 2016. From these records, a total of 2,526 adult patients’ health data was included in the study findings. Of this number, only 4.4 percent received Revolade as their second line treatment for immune thrombocytopenia. The remainder all received other types of second line treatment, with the most popular being rituximab. The data found that Revolade patients had the lowest rate of bleed related episodes and trombotic events.
While all treatments were successful in increasing platelet counts, Revolade was most capable of reducing episodes of bleeding. Currently, the drug is approved as a second line treatment for patients with immune thrombocytopenia who had failed to respond to other therapies or are otherwise intolerant to them. This data can be highly valuable for doctors who are trying to decide on the best second line therapy for this group of patients.
