Is Roprostim/Romigrastim a chemotherapy drug?

No, Romiplostim is not a chemotherapy (cancer) drug. Roprostim is a prescription drug used to treat low platelet counts that may cause bleeding in people with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Platelets are blood cells that help form blood clots. Roplastin is approved for use in adults and children over 1 year of age. Chemotherapy drugs usually target cancer cells and treat various types of cancer by inhibiting their growth and reproduction, but the mechanism of roplastin is different.

People with immune thrombocytopenic purpura do not make enough thrombopoietin (TPO). Roplastinworks similarly to TPO, telling your bone marrow to make more platelets to help reduce the risk of bleeding. Roplastin attaches to and activates TPO receptors, similar to how your natural TPO works.

In adults, roplastin is used when certain drugs or surgery to remove the spleen are not effective. It is also used in children 1 year or older who have ITP by age 6 months and have been unsuccessfully treated with surgery to remove the spleen or certain medications. Roplastinis also used to increase the survival rate of people, including newborns, exposed to high levels of radiation (acute radiation syndrome).

Although its main purpose is to improve platelet counts, loprostim is not directly involved in the anti-tumor process and therefore should not be considered a chemotherapy agent. Roprostimis not used to treat cancer, but it may worsen a precancerous condition called myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). This may further lead to a blood cancer called acute leukemia. Roplastinshould not be used in patients with MDS or low platelet counts due to any condition other than immune thrombocytopenia.