Glaxo platelet drug rejected by UK cost agency

* Preliminary NICE verdict recommends against using Revolade

* Final decision expected from NICE in October

LONDON, June 10 (Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline (GSK.L) received a second rebuff in as many days from Britain's NICE on Thursday when the healthcare cost watchdog ruled its platelet-boosting drug Revolade was not worth using on the state health service. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), giving preliminary guidance on Thursday, said it was recommending against use of the drug for treating chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a disorder that can cause dangerous bleeding.

NICE said it was very unclear how much benefit Revolade provided compared with other treatments and its cost in relation to the estimated health benefits was also far greater than what was normally considered cost effective.

Glaxo said it would respond in the time that the process allowed. NICE expects to publish final guidance in October 2010.

ITP is a relatively rare condition, affecting 3.9 out of 100,000 persons per year in Britain.

The setback for the company follows a final appraisal decision recommending against Glaxo's high-profile breast cancer pill Tyverb on Wednesday. [ID:nLDE6581C1] (Reporting by Ben Hirschler; Editing by Hans Peters)