Dova Pharma's blood disorder drug gets FDA approval

The U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Monday it had approved Dova Pharmaceuticals Inc’s drug to treat low blood platelet count in chronic liver disease (CLD) patients, who are scheduled to undergo a medical procedure.

The drug to treat thrombocytopenia belongs to a class of treatments called thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO RA), which stimulate platelet production, and is the first such treatment to be approved by the FDA for CLD patients.

Thrombocytopenia is a common complication seen in chronic liver disease patients caused by a low blood platelet count, which may result in severe bleeding.

A blood platelet transplant is commonly recommended for thrombocytopenia patients undergoing medical procedures such as liver biopsy.

Japan-based Shionogi & Co Ltd is developing a similar drug and an FDA decision is due by late August.

Shares of Dova were halted on the Nasdaq.