Ligand Pharma Inc Roche Contingent Value Rights (LGNDZ)

[mlkrborn]

Ligand Pharma follow-up: FDA approves new indication for PROMACTA (LGND is halted) (LGND) 16.67 : GSK announced today that the FDA has approved PROMACTA for the treatment of thrombocytopenia (low blood platelet counts) in patients with chronic hepatitis C to allow them to initiate and maintain interferon-based therapy. PROMACTA is the first supportive care treatment available to patients who are ineligible or poor candidates for interferon-based therapy due to their low blood platelet counts. There are limitations to the use of PROMACTA in patients suffering from chronic hepatitis C-associated thrombocytopenia. These include:

PROMACTA should not be used in an attempt to normalize platelet counts;
PROMACTA should be used only in patients with chronic hepatitis C whose degree of thrombocytopenia prevents the initiation of interferon therapy or limits the ability to maintain optimal interferon-based therapy;
Safety and efficacy have not been established in combination with direct-acting antiviral agents approved for treatment of chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 infection.