Hetrombopag: First Approval

Hetrombopag (Hengqu®), an oral nonpeptide thrombopoietin receptor agonist, is being developed by Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceutical for the treatment of thrombocytopenia and aplastic anaemia. On 16 June 2021, hetrombopag received its first approval in China as a second-line treatment for primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and severe aplastic anaemia (SAA) in adults. The drug is also undergoing phase III development in China for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia. This article summarizes the milestones in the development of hetrombopag leading to this first approval for ITP and SAA.