Monograph

The Ministry of Health’s Drug Advisory Committee has recommended:

Eltrombopag 25 mg and 50 mg tablets for treating:

• immune thrombocytopenia lasting six months or longer from diagnosis in patients who are intolerant or refractory to other treatments (e.g. corticosteroids, immunosuppressants); and
• severe aplastic anaemia in patients who are refractory to immunosuppressive therapy (comprising horse anti-thymocyte globulin plus ciclosporin for at least three months) and have marrow cellularity <25% (or 25 to 50% with <30% residual haematopoietic cells), with at least two of the following:
  • neutrophils <0.5 x 10⁹/l
  • platelets <20 x 10⁹/l
  • reticulocyte count <20 x 10⁹/l (<60 x 10⁹/l for automated reticulocyte counting).

Eltrombopag should be prescribed by a haematologist with experience in managing immune thrombocytopenia and severe aplastic anaemia.

Subsidy status