The Business Intelligence firm La Merie S.L. recently analyzed the pipeline of thrombopoietin-stimulating agents. Main outcome of the search was that only two recombinant macromolecular proteins of the many projects initiated in the last decade are left. These protein projects are closely followed by oral small molecule and recombinant small protein developments which offer more convenience in dosing and less risk for immunogenicity. The latter one has been a major reason for discontinuation of first generation protein projects. The two macromolecular proteins are a recombinant human thrombopoietin having completed clinical development in China and Amgen’s “peptibody” protein AMG 531 in mid-stage clinical devleopment for treatment of thrombocytopenia. At least six small molecule and small protein projects are in various stages of R&D but clinical superiority still has to be proven. The results of this analysis were published in the October 10 issue of R&D Pipeline News, edited by La Merie.
