An Observational Study of Fostamatinib As Second Line Therapy in Adult Patients with Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) in Real-World Clinical Practice

Background: In immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), autoantibody-bound platelets are targeted for phagocytosis by Fcγ-receptors on macrophages in a spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK)-dependent signaling pathway. Fostamatinib is a potent oral SYK inhibitor that demonstrated efficacy for the treatment of ITP in two phase 3 randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind studies and long-term durable responses in the phase 3 open-label extension study. In these studies, 146 patients with ITP were treated with fostamatinib, and 54% had a platelet response (platelet count ≥50,000/µL), which was maintained over a median of 86% of treatment days. These studies led to approval of fostamatinib in the US, Europe, and Canada as a therapy for chronic ITP in adult patients who have had an insufficient response to a prior treatment. Further, a post-hoc analysis showed that, in those who received fostamatinib as second-line therapy (following steroids ± immunoglobulins), 78% achieved a platelet response, which was maintained over a median of 83% of treatment days. 1 Adverse events (AEs) were reported in 72% of second-line patients and 86% of all patients, and common AEs were similar between second-line patients and the total patient population. 1, 2 Bleeding events were reported in 24% of second-line patients vs. 41% of all patients. The results of the post hoc analysis underscored the necessity for further evaluation of fostamatinib as a second-line therapy for ITP.