The FDA on May 21 approved Dova Pharmaceuticals' drug Doptelet to treat thrombocytopenia — a condition involving a low blood platelet count — in chronic liver disease patients set to undergo a medical or dental procedure.
Here are three things to know.
1. Doptelet, which stimulates platelet production, is the first drug approved for this use.
2. Thrombocytopenia is a common complication for chronic liver disease patients that can cause severe bleeding during surgery. As such, many patients must receive a blood platelet transfusion before undergoing a procedure.
"This drug may decrease or eliminate the need for platelet transfusions, which are associated with risk of infection and other adverse reactions," said Richard Pazdur, MD, acting director of the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
3. Dova Pharmaceuticals plans to launch Doptelet in June.
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