Authors' recommendations: Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) occurs when the immune system destroys platelets, which are cells in the blood that are necessary for normal blood clotting. Persons with the disease have too few platelets in the blood which causes bleeding. Adults tend to get a chronic (long-term) form of the disease. Fostamatinib is a new drug for the treatment of ITP that is given as a tablet. Some studies have suggested fostamatinib may be helpful for people whose first treatment has failed and more studies are now aiming to show how well it works and that it is safe to use. If fostamatinib is licenced for use in the UK, it could be a new treatment option for adults with chronic ITP that may cause fewer side effects than current treatments.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2016

URL for published report: http://www.hsric.nihr.ac.uk/topics/fostamatinib-for-chronic-immune-thrombocytopenic-purpura/

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: England, United Kingdom

Organisation Name: NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre

Contact Address: The NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre, Department of Public Health, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics, School of Health and Population Sciences, University of Birmingham, 90 Vincent Drive, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2SP. United Kingdom. Tel: +44 121 414 7831, Fax: +44 121 2269

Contact Name: c.packer@bham.ac.uk

Contact Email: c.packer@bham.ac.uk

Copyright: NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre (NIHR HSC)