Breaking ITP Research from the 2018 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting

Each year the annual American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting attracts thousands of clinicians and scientists, worldwide, to learn about and report on the latest hematology research. This year’s 2018 ASH meeting, held December 1 – 4 in San Diego, California featured the annual ITP Breakfast Meeting, coordinated by PDSA and four of our Medical Advisors, Dr. James Bussel, Dr. Nichola Cooper, Dr. Michele Lambert and Dr. John Semple, who invited twelve hematologist investigators to present their cutting-edge ITP research. In this issue of the e-news, we report some trends. Watch for additional ASH findings in the 2018 winter issue of the PDSA quarterly newsletter, The Platelet News.

The ASH abstract numbers are shown in parentheses. You can search on the number and read the complete abstract at: http://www.bloodjournal.org/content/132/suppl_1.

CONTENTS:

• Results Obtained on the Fc Gamma Receptors (FcγR) I and III Suggest These Receptors are Prime Targets for Potential Therapeutic Maneuver in the Treatment of ITP
• Retrospective Study Examines Safety, Efficacy, and Treatment Response in ITP Patients treated with Dapsone (Abstract 737)
• Pilot Study Evaluates Combined Therapy of Eltrombopag and Dexamethasone to Increase Prolonged Response in Adult ITP Patients (Abstract 733)

 
CONTENTS:

• Retrospective study found that ITP patients with infections displayed statistically lower platelet counts than ITP patients without infections
• Principia Biopharma Announces FDA Orphan-Drug Designation For PRN1008 For The Treatment of ITP
• Dova Pharmaceuticals Achieves Application Acceptance For Doptelet (Avatrombopag) To Be Used In Adult Chronic ITP patients
• ASH Guidelines on ITP Available for Public Comment

 
CONTENTS:

• Fostamatinib (TavalisseTM) presents clinically meaningful results in two phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of ITP in adults.
• Baseline thrombopoietin levels predict response to treatment with eltrombopag and romiplostim in patients with ITP

 
CONTENTS:

• Argenx releases Phase 2 trial results on efgartigimod (ARGX-113) as a possible alternative therapy for ITP management
• Impact of ITP – Increasing risk of complications in pregnancy

 
CONTENTS:

• IV immunoglobin treatment as standard-care limited to specific patients
• Lusutrombopag Approved to Treat Thrombocytopenia in Adults with Chronic Liver Disease

 
CONTENTS:

• Impact of ITP-Causing Fatigue on Quality of Life
• When to Stop TPO treatment? A Consensus

 
CONTENTS:

• Determining Good Candidates for Splenectomy
• NORD Statement on Impact of Insurance Copays on Rare Disease Patients

 
CONTENTS:

• Avatrombopag Approved to treat Thrombocytopenia in Liver Disease
• UK ITP Registry Results Presented at EHA Congress in Stockholm

 
CONTENTS:

• Tavalisse (fostamatinib) FDA-Approved for Second-line Treatment of ITP
• FDA Grants ITP Treatment ‘Compassionate Use’ For Patients Unresponsive to Past Therapies New requests will be considered until April 28 2018
• Lipitor Reverses Steroid-Resistant ITP

 
CONTENTS:

• Sirolimus is Effective in Elevating Platelet Counts in difficult to treat ITP
• Expanded Access (Compassionate Use) Program Available in the US for ITP Patients Unresponsive to Past Therapies

 CONTENTS:

• Possible Connection between ITP and Heart Disease
• Food Allergy Ruled Out as Cause of ITP

 CONTENTS:

• ‘Compassionate Use’ Treatment Available for ITP Patients Unresponsive to Past Therapies
• Frequent TV Watching Associated with Increased Blood Clots