Shionogi debuts Mulpleo in the UK

The European subsidiary of Japanese drugmaker Shionogi (TYO: 4507) today said it has launched its Mulpleo (lusutrombopag) in the UK for the treatment of severe thrombocytopenia in adult patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) undergoing invasive procedures.

Mulpleo is the first licensed treatment available on the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK to treat this condition and has also been approved for funding across the health services in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Chronic liver disease is a huge burden in the UK; over 600,000 people have a form of serious liver disease and 60,000 have cirrhosis, commented Shionogi. The number of deaths has increased by 400% since 1970 and it is now responsible for the highest number of premature deaths in 35-49 year olds. Currently, the only option available to doctors and their patients to manage platelet counts is a transfusion of platelets.