ACE Technology Guidances

ACE Technology Guidances communicate recommendations from the MOH Drug Advisory Committee or the MOH Medical Technology Advisory Committee on the funding status and appropriate use of drugs, vaccines or medical technologies that have been evaluated by ACE. The guidances also include the Committee’s rationale for the funding recommendations, and key clinical and economic evidence which informed their deliberations. Plain English Summaries (PES) to explain ACE Technology Guidances are available for patients and the public.

Published on 04 Jan 2022
Last Updated on 04 Jan 2022
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Guidance Recommendations
The Ministry of Health’s Drug Advisory Committee has recommended:
  • Eltrombopag 25 mg and 50 mg tablets for treating:
    • immune thrombocytopenia lasting six months or longer from diagnosis in patients who are intolerant or refractory to other treatments (e.g. corticosteroids, immunosuppressants); and
    • severe aplastic anaemia in patients who are refractory to immunosuppressive therapy (comprising horse anti-thymocyte globulin plus ciclosporin for at least three months) and have marrow cellularity <25% (or 25 to 50% with <30% residual haematopoietic cells), with at least two of the following:
      • neutrophils <0.5 x 109/l
      • platelets <20 x 109/l
      • reticulocyte count <20 x 109/l (<60 x 109/l for automated reticulocyte counting).
Eltrombopag should be prescribed by a haematologist with experience in managing immune thrombocytopenia and severe aplastic anaemia.

Subsidy status

Eltrombopag 25 mg and 50 mg tablets are recommended for inclusion on the Medication Assistance Fund (MAF) for the abovementioned indications.

MAF assistance does not apply to the use of eltrombopag for treating newly diagnosed severe aplastic anaemia.


Eltrombopag for treating immune thrombocytopenia and severe aplastic anaemia (4 Jan 2022) PES Eltrombopag for treating immune thrombocytopenia and severe aplastic anaemia (Published 4 Jan 2022)