Ligand Partner GSK Announces Results of Phase III PETIT2 Study
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated recently announced that its partner, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) plc, presented the results from the Phase III PETIT2 study evaluating the efficacy of eltrombopag vs. placebo in pediatric patients with chronic immune (idiopathic) thrombocytopenic purpura (cITP). Eltrombopag – marketed as Promacta in the US and as Revolade in Europe and other countries across the world – met its primary endpoint, achieving a statistically significant improvement in platelet counts with almost 40% of patients treated with eltrombopag attaining a consistent platelet response for 6 of 8 weeks compared to placebo (39.7% vs. 3.4%, respectively). GSK also announced that it is moving forward with planned regulatory submissions for a pediatric indication in cITP later this year.
Efficacy results for PETIT2 were consistent across age cohorts. The safety profile was consistent with the established profile for eltrombopag and no new safety concerns were observed. The most common adverse events (AEs) occurring most frequently in the eltrombopag arm included nasopharyngitis, rhinitis, cough, and respiratory tract infection. Grade 3/4 AEs occurred in 12.7% of patients treated with eltrombopag and 10.3% of patients in the placebo group. Serious AEs were reported in 8% of eltrombopag-treated patients vs. 14% in the placebo arm.
Ligand is a biopharmaceutical company with a business model that is based upon the concept of developing or acquiring royalty revenue-generating assets and coupling them to a lean corporate cost structure. Ligand’s goal is to produce a bottom line that supports a sustainably profitable business. By diversifying its portfolio of assets across numerous technology types, therapeutic areas, drug targets, and industry partners, it offers investors an opportunity to invest in the increasingly complicated and unpredictable pharmaceutical industry. Ligand’s Captisol platform technology is a patent protected, chemically modified cyclodextrin with a structure designed to optimize the solubility and stability of drugs. Ligand has established multiple alliances with the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies including GlaxoSmithKline, Onyx Pharmaceuticals (a subsidiary of Amgen Inc.), Merck, Pfizer, Baxter International, Eli Lilly & Co. and Spectrum Pharmaceuticals. Please visit www.captisol.com for more information on Captisol. For more information on Ligand, please visit www.ligand.com.
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