Current status of thrombopoietic agents.

Two different thrombopoietic drugs, romiplostim and eltrombopag, have completed Phase III trials in patients with immune-mediated thrombocytopenia and were observed to successfully improve platelet counts. This review will mostly focus on these two agents. We shall review their preclinical development as well as clinical trial results in immune-mediated thrombocytopenia. Also, we shall discuss their potential clinical use in thrombocytopenias associated with other medical conditions where reduction in platelet production is an integral part of disease manifestations.