Dr. Altomare on Investigational Agents in ITP

Ivy P. Altomare, MD, associate professor of medicine, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, and medical oncologist, Duke Cancer Network, discusses investigational agents in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).

There are many emerging classes of agents in the ITP pipeline including neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) inhibitors, BTK inhibitors, and low-dose decitabine, says Altomare. The FcRn inhibitors are administered intravenously or subcutaneously.

Phase 2 data presented at the 2019 ASH Annual Meeting demonstrated efficacy with the FcRn inhibitors efgartigimod (ARGX-113) and rozanolixizumab (UCB7665) in ITP, explains Altomare. As such, phase 3 clinical trials with these agents are ongoing.

FcRn inhibitors can target the FcRn pathway, which is a key part of preserving and recycling immunoglobulin, says Altomare. Inhibition of the FcRn pathway can degrade an IgG molecule, thus making these drugs potentially effective in treating patients with autoimmune diseases, such as ITP.