GSK's Promacta raises platelet levels

Data from Phase II studies published in the November 28 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine report that UK drug major GlaxoSmithKline's investigational compound Promacta (eltrombopag) significantly raised platelet levels in patients with thrombocytopenia (low number of platelets in the bloodstream). The studies were conducted in chronic hepatitis C, where thrombocytopenia complicates disease treatment, and chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, where thrombocytopenia increases the risk of bleeding and bruising. Elevating platelet counts in these settings can provide important patient benefits, GSK noted.

The firm's investigational oral, non-peptide platelet growth factor that induces the proliferation and differentiation of cells to produce platelets has not yet received regulatory approval in any market. After four weeks of treatment in chronic HCV patients, once-daily doses of Promacta at 30mg, 50mg and 75mg resulted in elevated platelet counts (100,000 per microliter) in 75%, 79% and 95% of patients respectively compared to no platelet elevations in those receiving placebo (p<0.001).