The European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended Nplate for marketing in the European Union. Nplate (romiplostim) is currently the only long term drug on the market for treating chronic Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a condition of having low blood platelet counts.
Nplate is a fusion protein that contains characteristics of both antibodies and peptides. It works by stimulating the TPO receptor, causing bone marrow cells to grow, which make blood platelets.
There are an estimated 50,000 ITP patients in Europe, however not all of them are being recommended for Nplate. Only the patients who aren’t responding to current treatments are suggested to try Nplate. This could still be several thousands of people.
The CHMP is basing its recommendation on two different phase 3 studies where platelet counts were raised by 83% in patients from both splenectomised and non-splenectomised groups.
Before considering Nplate, patients should look at the potential side effects. Because Nplate works by stimulating bone marrow growth, there is the possibility of getting bone marrow fibrosis. Patients may also experience lower platelet counts after discontinuing Nplate compared to when started taking Nplate. Another risk is blood clot formation; as platelet counts increase, there may be a higher risk for strokes or heart attacks caused by blood clots.
What is your opinion? Please share your experiences and opinions about Nplate and ITP.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
What is Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)?
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, or immune thrombocytopenic purpura, is the condition of having low blood platelet counts. This can prevent blood from clotting, which may lead to severe, uncontrollable bleeding. Symptoms include getting bruised easily, bleeding under the skin causing red or purple spots, nosebleeds, bleeding in the gums, or urinating blood.
Broken into its parts, thrombocytopenia means having a low platelet count, idiopathic means that it has no known cause, and purpura describes the purple skin color caused from bleeding under the skin.
ITP can be acute, where it starts suddenly and improves spontaneously, or it can be chronic, where it comes on more slowly and lasts years. Acute ITP usually occurs in children after fighting a viral illness and often doesn’t return. Chronic ITP occurs more in adults and may not need treatment if platelet counts are not too low. While the cause is unknown, it seems that the immune system starts attacking blood platelets and destroys them. Antibodies erroneously coat the blood platelets, which signal the spleen to remove platelets from the body.
If your platelet count is below 20,000 you will probably need treatment. Between 20,000 and 50,000 treatment is considered on a case by case basis. And above 50,000 typically doesn’t require treatment.
Have you ever had acute or chronic ITP? If so, how have you treated it? Please share your experiences!
Broken into its parts, thrombocytopenia means having a low platelet count, idiopathic means that it has no known cause, and purpura describes the purple skin color caused from bleeding under the skin.
ITP can be acute, where it starts suddenly and improves spontaneously, or it can be chronic, where it comes on more slowly and lasts years. Acute ITP usually occurs in children after fighting a viral illness and often doesn’t return. Chronic ITP occurs more in adults and may not need treatment if platelet counts are not too low. While the cause is unknown, it seems that the immune system starts attacking blood platelets and destroys them. Antibodies erroneously coat the blood platelets, which signal the spleen to remove platelets from the body.
If your platelet count is below 20,000 you will probably need treatment. Between 20,000 and 50,000 treatment is considered on a case by case basis. And above 50,000 typically doesn’t require treatment.
Have you ever had acute or chronic ITP? If so, how have you treated it? Please share your experiences!
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