We give you a written timeline estimate for your case before you commit.Ask about treatment
Aplastic anemia: US-approved treatments and how families in the Gulf can access them
A plain guide for families in the Gulf, checked against US FDA labels, US National Institutes of Health information, Gulf drug registers and published research on 17 October 2026.
Reviewed by the Reserve Meds clinical operations team on 17 October 2026.
Aplastic anemia: the short answer
The US FDA has approved two medicines covered on this page for aplastic anemia, each for a specific group of patients: Promacta and Atgam. On 17 October 2026, two of them were on the Saudi or Abu Dhabi register, so ask your hospital about local supply first. Where a medicine is not registered, the treating hospital can ask the national regulator to import it for one named patient. Reserve Meds is a digital health company that helps with that process. We do not diagnose or prescribe.
- US FDA-approved medicines on this page: Promacta and Atgam.
- Gulf registers (checked 17 October 2026): see each medicine below.
- Legal route: local supply where listed; otherwise a named-patient import request filed by the treating hospital.
- Price: Quote on request.
What is aplastic anemia?
Aplastic anemia is a rare but serious blood disorder in which the bone marrow does not make enough new blood cells. It happens when stem cells inside the bone marrow are damaged. Symptoms can include fatigue, weakness, dizziness, shortness of breath and easy bruising or bleeding, and it can lead to frequent infections.[1]
Autoimmune disorders are the most common cause. Others include inherited gene changes such as the one behind Fanconi anemia, toxic substances such as benzene, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, certain medicines and some viral infections. In many people the cause is unknown. It can develop suddenly or slowly.[1]
Treatment can include blood transfusions, blood and marrow stem cell transplants and medicines that suppress the immune system. In the US, Promacta is also approved with immunosuppressive therapy for severe aplastic anemia.[1, 2, 3]
Aplastic anemia in the Gulf
Gulf hematology studies on related bone marrow conditions include a case series of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria in Omani patients and a study of clinical characteristics and genetic subtypes of Fanconi anemia in Saudi patients.[4, 5]
We checked every medicine on this page against the full SFDA drugs list and the Abu Dhabi Department of Health drug code list on 17 October 2026. 1 of 2 was listed in Saudi Arabia and 2 of 2 in Abu Dhabi. The result for each medicine is shown below. A listing does not mean every hospital stocks the medicine, and federal UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman registers were not checked.[6, 7]
US FDA-approved medicines for aplastic anemia
Each medicine below is approved in the US for a specific group of patients. The wording summarizes the current US label. Your specialist decides whether any of them is right for the patient.
- Promacta (eltrombopag)
US FDA-approved for severe aplastic anemia: first-line treatment with standard immunosuppressive therapy in adults and children 2 years and older, and treatment after an insufficient response to immunosuppressive therapy. It is a tablet.[2]
Current US label version: 18 December 2025. Gulf registers: Saudi Arabia (SFDA drugs list): listed as Revolade. Abu Dhabi (DoH drug code list): listed as Revolade. Checked 17 October 2026. Federal UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman: not checked; we confirm for your country when you ask.[6, 7] - Atgam (lymphocyte immune globulin, anti-thymocyte globulin (equine))
US FDA-approved for moderate to severe aplastic anemia in patients who are not suitable for bone marrow transplantation. It is an immune globulin given by intravenous infusion in hospital.[3]
Current US label version: 18 June 2024. Gulf registers: Saudi Arabia (SFDA drugs list): not found. Abu Dhabi (DoH drug code list): listed. Checked 17 October 2026. Federal UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman: not checked; we confirm for your country when you ask.[6, 7]
How families in the Gulf can access treatment
If the medicine is listed in your country. Ask your specialist and the hospital about local supply first. A listing does not mean every hospital stocks the medicine, but it is usually the fastest route, and you may not need us.
If it is not registered. The usual legal route is a named-patient request: the treating hospital, on your specialist's written request, asks the national regulator for permission to import the medicine for one patient, using the US FDA approval as the reference. In Saudi Arabia the SFDA Special Access Program guidance covers these requests; in Bahrain, NHRA Circular 41 of 2020 sets the procedure. Other Gulf countries have their own procedures, which the hospital confirms.[8, 9] Once approval is in place, Reserve Meds arranges supply through a US-licensed pharmaceutical wholesale partner to the hospital.
Who does what
- Your treating specialist decides whether a medicine is right for the patient and writes the medical letter.
- The hospital checks local supply, files any import request, and gives the treatment safely.
- The national regulator decides whether to approve the import of a medicine that is not registered.
- The manufacturer decides where its medicine can be supplied, especially for cell and gene therapies.
- Reserve Meds helps organize records, coordinates US supply through our wholesale partner, shipping and updates to your family. We do not give medical advice.
Documents you will usually need
- A letter from the treating specialist with the diagnosis, past treatments and why this medicine is being considered
- Reports that confirm the diagnosis, such as genetic, pathology, imaging or laboratory results, translated into English where needed
- Recent clinic notes and a list of current medicines
- For a hospital import request: the prescription, the hospital's request form and the written consent of the patient or guardian
- Proof of the US FDA approval and the US prescribing information (we can supply these)
We give you a written timeline estimate for your case before you commit. The regulator, the hospital or treatment center and the manufacturer set their own timelines.
What treatment costs
Quote on request. Your total cost depends on the medicine, the dose, shipping, import steps and coordination. Your coordination fee is quoted in writing for your case before you commit. No hidden charges.
How Reserve Meds helps
Reserve Meds is a digital health company. Medicines are supplied through a US-licensed pharmaceutical wholesale partner. We help your doctor and hospital prepare the file, arrange US supply and temperature-controlled shipping once approval is in place, and keep your family updated. We coordinate access to FDA-approved medicines only. Investigational medicines are only available through a manufacturer's expanded-access program requested by the treating physician; we can explain that route, but we do not supply them.
Ask us about treatment for aplastic anemia
Tell us the medicine, your country and a WhatsApp or phone number. We reply within one business day. On WhatsApp we usually reply the same day.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an FDA-approved treatment for aplastic anemia?
Yes. The medicines on this page have US FDA approval for specific groups of patients: Promacta and Atgam. The exact conditions are in each US label and are summarized above. Your specialist decides whether any of them fits.
Is Promacta available in Saudi Arabia or the UAE?
We checked on 17 October 2026. Saudi Arabia (SFDA drugs list): listed as Revolade. Abu Dhabi (Department of Health drug code list): listed as Revolade. A listing in Abu Dhabi does not show federal UAE status, which we could not verify. Your hospital confirms current supply.
How can a family in the Gulf get Promacta?
Ask the treating hospital about local supply first. If it is not available, the hospital can file a named-patient import request with the national regulator on your specialist's written request. Once approved, we arrange US supply to the hospital.
How much does treatment cost?
Quote on request. Your total cost, including the medicine, shipping, import steps and coordination, is quoted in writing for your case before you commit. No hidden charges.
Does Reserve Meds diagnose or prescribe?
No. Reserve Meds is a digital health company. Medicines are supplied through a US-licensed pharmaceutical wholesale partner. We do not diagnose, prescribe or decide what a regulator approves. Your specialist and hospital make the medical decisions.
Is Promacta the same as Revolade?
Yes. Eltrombopag is sold as Promacta in the US and as Revolade in many other countries. We give the Gulf register status for both names on this page.
Sources for the condition-specific answers: [2]
Sources
Accessed and checked on 17 October 2026. Labels, registers and regulator rules change. Your hospital confirms the current position before anything is filed.
- MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine): Aplastic Anemia
- DailyMed: PROMACTA (eltrombopag) US prescribing information, label version 18 December 2025
- DailyMed: ATGAM (lymphocyte immune globulin, anti-thymocyte globulin (equine)) US prescribing information, label version 18 June 2024
- Al-Riyami AZ, et al. Clinicopathological Profile of Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria among Omani Patients: A Case Series. Oman Med J. 2022 (PubMed 35949713)
- Ghazwani Y, et al. Clinical characteristics and genetic subtypes of Fanconi anemia in Saudi patients. Cancer Genet. 2016 (PubMed 26968956)
- SFDA: Drugs List, public register (all 9,173 entries checked by brand name on 17 October 2026)
- Department of Health Abu Dhabi: drug code list Drugs.xlsx (release 26 September 2026, effective 2 October 2026)
- SFDA: Special Access Program (SAP) guidance, version 1.0
- NHRA Bahrain: Circular No. (41) of 2020, procedures for importing non-registered medicines and pharmaceutical products
Related
- Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP)
- Named-patient access in the Gulf, explained
- US-approved medicines not yet registered in the Gulf
- Answers to common access questions
- Cross-border disclosures
- اقرأ هذه الصفحة بالعربية
- यह पृष्ठ हिंदी में पढ़ें
This page is general health information, not medical advice. It does not replace a consultation with your doctor.