Fostamatinib is a spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) inhibitor recommended to treat ITP patients who have been unable to receive a sufficient response from other medications. TAVLESSE® (fostamatinib), developed by Grifols UK, is known to be one of the only drugs that protect platelets from being destroyed and the first ITP drug that has been developed in a decade.
Grifols UK has announced that its drug TAVLESSE® has been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). With this endorsement, TAVLESSE® patients throughout the UK who have previously been treated with a thrombopoietin receptor may receive reimbursement from the National Health Service.
TAVLESSE can now be obtained in the United States as TAVALISSE® its U.S. brand name. Grifols has entered into a License Agreement with Rigel Pharmaceuticals, a company based in the United States granting rights of exclusivity to fostamatinib for chronic ITP throughout Turkey, Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and other countries.
About ITP
Blood platelets are actively involved in healing and blood clotting. ITP causes the immune system to attack and destroy the body’s platelets. ITP’s most common symptoms are bleeding and bruising. People diagnosed with ITP have increased risks of significant bleeding episodes or other medical complications. Current treatment includes blood platelet boosters or removal of the spleen (splenectomy) which is only effective in a certain number of patients. Therefore, there has been a significant need for other treatment options.
