Initial Data on Clinical Use of Generic Romiplostim for Second-Line and Subsequent Therapy of Immune Thrombocytopenia in India

Introduction: Over 50% of adults with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) require second-line therapy after steroids, but these options are plagued by low rates of response, which are often delayed by 2–3 months. Romiplostim is a thrombopoietin receptor agonist (TPO-RA) that has shown significant efficacy...

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Main Authors: Suvir Singh, Komalpreet Kaur
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2021-01-01
Series:Indian Journal of Medical Specialities
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Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/injms.injms_105_20
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author Suvir Singh
Komalpreet Kaur
author_facet Suvir Singh
Komalpreet Kaur
author_sort Suvir Singh
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Over 50% of adults with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) require second-line therapy after steroids, but these options are plagued by low rates of response, which are often delayed by 2–3 months. Romiplostim is a thrombopoietin receptor agonist (TPO-RA) that has shown significant efficacy in this setting and is now available in a generic formulation. No data on the efficacy and safety of the same are available in the India context. Methodology: This study was conducted from August 2019 to July 2020. Romiplostim was used for patients with ITP that was (a) steroid or intravenous immunoglobulin (IvIg) refractory or (b) not responding to other second-line agents. Results: A total of 11 patients were included in the analysis (M:F = 6:5) with a median age of 44 years (range, 18–67). Initial therapy was corticosteroids for all patients of which nine (81%) had an initial response. Second-line therapy included azathioprine for six patients (54%) and IvIg for four (36%) patients. All patients were refractory to the second-line therapy and initiated on romiplostim at a median dose of 3.68 μg/kg/week (range, 2.7–6.2). A sustained response was observed in 10 patients (90.9%) after a median duration of 13 days (range, 2–32). At a median follow-up of 5.5 months, nine patients (81%) had stable platelet counts. Conclusion: Initial data suggest that generic romiplostim is an effective and safe second-line medication for ITP and can potentially avoid splenectomy in steroid and IvIg refractory patients. Prospective follow-up of more patients will provide a better perspective on efficacy and cost-effectiveness of TPO-RAs.
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spelling doaj-art-d37437fb2377413a94e95824f16b657c2025-08-25T08:33:44ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Journal of Medical Specialities0976-28840976-28922021-01-01121192110.4103/injms.injms_105_20Initial Data on Clinical Use of Generic Romiplostim for Second-Line and Subsequent Therapy of Immune Thrombocytopenia in IndiaSuvir SinghKomalpreet KaurIntroduction: Over 50% of adults with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) require second-line therapy after steroids, but these options are plagued by low rates of response, which are often delayed by 2–3 months. Romiplostim is a thrombopoietin receptor agonist (TPO-RA) that has shown significant efficacy in this setting and is now available in a generic formulation. No data on the efficacy and safety of the same are available in the India context. Methodology: This study was conducted from August 2019 to July 2020. Romiplostim was used for patients with ITP that was (a) steroid or intravenous immunoglobulin (IvIg) refractory or (b) not responding to other second-line agents. Results: A total of 11 patients were included in the analysis (M:F = 6:5) with a median age of 44 years (range, 18–67). Initial therapy was corticosteroids for all patients of which nine (81%) had an initial response. Second-line therapy included azathioprine for six patients (54%) and IvIg for four (36%) patients. All patients were refractory to the second-line therapy and initiated on romiplostim at a median dose of 3.68 μg/kg/week (range, 2.7–6.2). A sustained response was observed in 10 patients (90.9%) after a median duration of 13 days (range, 2–32). At a median follow-up of 5.5 months, nine patients (81%) had stable platelet counts. Conclusion: Initial data suggest that generic romiplostim is an effective and safe second-line medication for ITP and can potentially avoid splenectomy in steroid and IvIg refractory patients. Prospective follow-up of more patients will provide a better perspective on efficacy and cost-effectiveness of TPO-RAs.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/injms.injms_105_20costimmune thrombocytopeniaindiaplateletsthrombocytopenia
spellingShingle Suvir Singh
Komalpreet Kaur
Initial Data on Clinical Use of Generic Romiplostim for Second-Line and Subsequent Therapy of Immune Thrombocytopenia in India
Indian Journal of Medical Specialities
cost
immune thrombocytopenia
india
platelets
thrombocytopenia
title Initial Data on Clinical Use of Generic Romiplostim for Second-Line and Subsequent Therapy of Immune Thrombocytopenia in India
title_full Initial Data on Clinical Use of Generic Romiplostim for Second-Line and Subsequent Therapy of Immune Thrombocytopenia in India
title_fullStr Initial Data on Clinical Use of Generic Romiplostim for Second-Line and Subsequent Therapy of Immune Thrombocytopenia in India
title_full_unstemmed Initial Data on Clinical Use of Generic Romiplostim for Second-Line and Subsequent Therapy of Immune Thrombocytopenia in India
title_short Initial Data on Clinical Use of Generic Romiplostim for Second-Line and Subsequent Therapy of Immune Thrombocytopenia in India
title_sort initial data on clinical use of generic romiplostim for second line and subsequent therapy of immune thrombocytopenia in india
topic cost
immune thrombocytopenia
india
platelets
thrombocytopenia
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/injms.injms_105_20
work_keys_str_mv AT suvirsingh initialdataonclinicaluseofgenericromiplostimforsecondlineandsubsequenttherapyofimmunethrombocytopeniainindia
AT komalpreetkaur initialdataonclinicaluseofgenericromiplostimforsecondlineandsubsequenttherapyofimmunethrombocytopeniainindia