Fostamatinib produces clinically meaningful responses in adults with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), according to a study published in the July issue of the American Journal of Hematology. M.D., from Medicine Institute in New York City, and colleagues conducted two parallel phase 3 trials in which patients with persistent/chronic ITP (median duration, 8.5 years) were randomized in a 2-to-1 ratio to fostamatinib (101 patients) or placebo (49 patients), at 100 mg twice daily for 24 weeks, with a dose increase to 150 mg twice daily after four weeks in non-responders. The researchers found that stable responses occurred in 18% of patients on fostamatinib versus 2% on placebo.
43% of patients on fostamatinib and 14% on placebo achieved overall responses (defined as ≥1 platelet count ≥50,000/μL within the first 12 weeks on treatment). With the 100 mg dosage, the median time to response was 15…
