Govt to fund drug for rare blood disorder

It is estimated about 40 patients would receive funded Revolade each year at a cost of about $36,000 per patient. Photo / Thinkstock

A new drug used in the treatment of a rare and potentially fatal blood disorder is to be funded by the Government's drug buying agency.

Funding for Revolade had been approved for sufferers of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), Pharmac said in a statement today.

Those with ITP have low numbers of the blood platelets needed for clotting. Left untreated, people risk severe bleeding.

Revolade can help to increase the platelet count and reduce this risk, Pharmac said.

The agency's director of operations Sarah Fitt said the drug would be targeted to people who have severe cases of ITP and have already tried other available treatments, including having their spleen removed.

"While other treatments are currently available, our clinical advisory committee considered there was a greater evidence of benefit through using eltrombopag [Revolade]. When we look at this clinical impact, the improvement to patients' quality of life and long-term health outcomes, as well as a reduction in hospital admissions and its affordability, this makes a compelling case for funding eltrombopag.''

It is estimated about 40 patients would receive funded Revolade each year at a cost of about $36,000 per patient.

This would make it one of the more expensive treatments on Pharmac's pharmaceutical schedule.