Promacta receives FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation for first-line use in severe aplastic anemia

Data supporting designation showed over half of treatment-naïve SAA patients achieved complete response with Promacta when given with standard immunosuppressive therapy, with overall response rate of 85%.

SAA is a rare blood disorder in which a patient's bone marrow fails to produce enough red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. As a result, people living with this serious disease may experience debilitating symptoms and complications, such as fatigue, trouble breathing, recurring infections and abnormal bruising or bleeding that can limit their daily activities. Up to one-third of patients do not respond to current therapies or relapse, causing symptoms to return.

"Promacta is a promising medicine that, if approved for first-line use in severe aplastic anemia, may redefine the standard of care for patients with this rare and serious bone marrow condition," said Samit Hirawat, Head, Novartis Oncology Global Drug Development. "We will continue to work closely with the FDA to make Promacta available to patients with SAA who are new to treatment as soon as possible."

Novartis' analysis of research conducted by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) showed that over half (52%) of patients with treatment-naïve SAA achieved complete response at 6 months when treated with Promacta at the initiation of and concurrently with standard immunosuppressive treatment. The overall response rate was 85%.