FDA/CDC

FDA approves new drug for thrombocytopenia

Publish date: April 19, 2018
By
Mary Ellen Schneider

 

Fostamatinib disodium hexahydrate (Tavalisse) is now approved as a second-line treatment for thrombocytopenia in adults with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).

The Food and Drug Administration approved the oral spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) inhibitor, which works by impeding platelet destruction, on April 17. Its approval was based on data from FIT clinical program, including two randomized placebo-controlled phase 3 trials.

Fostamtinib was approved for treating thrombocytopenia Courtesy Rigel Pharmaceuticals

Fostamatinib (Tavalisse) was approved in April 2018.

The drug’s prescribing information calls for starting fostamatinib at 100 mg orally twice daily with or without food and increasing to 150 mg twice daily after 4 weeks, if needed, to achieve platelet counts of at least 50 x 109/L. Fostamatinib should be discontinued after 12 weeks if the platelet count does not increase enough to avoid clinically important bleeding.

Physicians are advised to monitor blood pressure and liver function with the drug. Fostamatinib may interact with CYP3A4 inhibitors and inducers. Concomitant use of fostamatinib with CYP3A4 inhibitors increases exposure to R406 – the drug’s major metabolite – and may increase the risk of adverse reactions. Use with strong CYP3A4 inducers is not recommended because it reduces exposure to R406.


Women of reproductive potential should be advised to use appropriate contraception while using fostamatinib and for a month after stopping the drug; pregnant women should be told of potential risk to the fetus. Advise women not to breastfeed during treatment and for at least 1 month after the last dose, according to a press statement.

Rigel Pharmaceuticals plans to release the drug in the United States in late May 2018.

Next Article:

Fostamatinib approved to treat adults with chronic ITP