The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 280 No 7488 p144
9 February 2008

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Romiplostim lifts platelet counts

Thrombopoiesis-stimulating protein romiplostim has shown benefit for people with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura — an autoimmune condition causing accelerated platelet destruction and reduced platelet production.

Durable platelet response was seen for 16 of 42 splenectomised patients given romiplostim for six months compared with none of 21 such patients on placebo (P=0.0013), and for 25 of 41 non-splenectomised patients given the drug compared with one of 21 such patients on placebo.

The phase III data were published in last week’s issue of The Lancet (2008;371:395).