By Razak Musah Baba
LONDON--GlaxoSmithKline PLC (GSK.LN) said Friday the results
from the Phase III PETIT2 study evaluating its drug eltrombopag in
pediatric patients with low platelet count showed the main
objective was met.
Glaxo said, eltrombopag--marketed as Promacta in the U.S. and as
Revolade in Europe and other countries across the world--met its
objective, achieving a statistically significant improvement in
platelet counts with almost 40% of patients treated with
eltrombopag attaining a consistent platelet response for 6 of 8
weeks compared with the placebo.
Dr. Rafael Amado, head of oncology research and development at
Glaxo, said: "the PETIT2 study results presented today show an
increase in platelet response rate with eltrombopag treatment--an
important result given that these children had failed other
standard therapies."
"We look forward to continuing to assess the potential of
eltrombopag in these patients and to moving forward with planned
regulatory submissions for a pediatric indication in cITP [chronic
immune (idiopathic) thrombocytopenic purpura] later this year," Dr.
Amado added.
Eltrombopag isn't approved or licensed anywhere in the world for
use in chronic immune (idiopathic) thrombocytopenic purpura in the
pediatric area.
Write to Razak Musah Baba at razak.baba@wsj.com; Twitter:
@Raztweet
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