UK's NICE gives thumbs up for GSK's Revolade as NHS blood disorder treatment

UK drugs watch dog the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published final draft guidance recommending pharma major GlaxoSmithKline’s (LSE: GSK) Revolade (eltrombopag) as an option for treating some adults with the bleeding disorder, chronic immune (idiopathic) thrombocytopenic purpura.

This condition is caused by abnormally low levels of platelets, which are needed for the blood to clot. Eltrombopag is licensed for use in adults with the condition who have had a splenectomy, and whose condition does not respond to other treatments (for example, corticosteroids or immunoglobulins). Eltrombopag is also licensed as a second-line treatment in adults who have not had a splenectomy because surgery is not advisable.

The NICE has recommended eltrombopag as an option for both of these patient groups, only if they have severe disease and a high risk of bleeding that needs frequent courses of rescue therapies, and if the manufacturer makes it available to the National Health Service under the terms agreed with the Department of Health as part of a patient access scheme.