What is Ferriprox® (deferiprone)?
Ferriprox (deferiprone) is an iron chelator indicated for the treatment of patients with transfusional iron overload due to thalassemia syndromes when current chelation therapy is inadequate.
Approval is based on a reduction in serum ferritin levels. There are no controlled trials demonstrating a direct treatment benefit, such as improvement in disease-related symptoms, functioning, or increased survival.
Limitations of Use: Safety and effectiveness have not been established for the treatment of transfusional iron overload in patients with other chronic anemias.
How does Ferriprox remove cardiac iron?
Deferiprone is a chelating agent with an affinity for ferric ion (iron III). Deferiprone binds with ferric ions to form neutral 3:1 (deferiprone:iron) complexes.
Deferiprone has been observed to reduce excess intracellular iron, including myocytes, which may be related to its high ability to pass through cell membranes due to its low molecular weight, neutral charge, and balanced lipophilicity.
What do the guidelines recommend for the treatment of iron loading in the heart?
Treatment guidelines recommend preventing significant iron loading from the start, not just in an emergency. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends yearly MRI T2* assessments of the heart. Ferriprox has been proven to reduce iron levels in the heart and liver and to decrease serum ferritin. To help your patients find a certified MRI T2* facility closest to them, use our facility search tool.
Understanding that MRI T2* assessment is important to assess iron level in the heart and liver, how do I find the closest certified facility for my patient?
Cardiac and liver iron monitoring by MRI T2* is essential for patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia. Use the MRI T2* facility search to find the one nearest you.
Is Ferriprox suitable for patients with renal or hepatic impairment?
Yes. No adjustment of the Ferriprox dosage regimen is required in patients with impaired renal function (mild to severe) or impaired hepatic¶¶ function (mild to moderate).
¶¶ Ferriprox was not studied in a severely hepatically impaired patient population.
What are the monitoring requirements for Ferriprox?
Monitoring patients on Ferriprox is straightforward. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) is measured once before treatment initiation and then weekly while on therapy. Serum liver enzymes are evaluated monthly, on therapy, and plasma zinc concentration is monitored if necessary.
What steps should I tell patients to take if they develop a fever or flu-like symptoms while taking Ferriprox?
If your patient develops a fever, sore throat or mouth sores, flu-like symptoms, or chills and severe shaking, they should follow these three steps:
Ferriprox patients receive a wallet card with these three steps printed on it with every medication shipment. To request wallet cards for your office, please contact the Chiesi Total CareTM team at 1-866-758-7071.
How high can I titrate the Ferriprox dose?
The FDA-approved dosing for Ferriprox is 75-99 mg/kg/day. Start your patient on 75 mg/kg/day, then titrate up to meet chelation targets. Increasing the dose of Ferriprox up to 99 mg/kg/day may improve efficacy in iron chelation. The incidence of neutropenia and agranulocytosis is not dose related within the therapeutic range.
Does the incidence of agranulocytosis increase with Ferriprox dose?
The incidence of neutropenia and agranulocytosis is not dose-related within the therapeutic range. The FDA-approved dosage of Ferriprox is 75-99 mg/kg/day.
What formulations of Ferriprox are available?
Ferriprox offers a choice of formulations in oral tablets and oral solution formats. Ferriprox offers twice-daily dosing with blister packaging designed for life on the go. Talk to your patients about switching to Ferriprox Twice-A-Day.
Why switch to Ferriprox Twice-A-Day tablets?
Ferriprox offers twice-daily dosing with blister packaging designed for lif on the go.
Ferriprox Twice-A-Day tablets provide proven iron reduction and an established safety profile similar to the IR (immediate-release) tablets.
Serum ferritin‡ reduction
- In the clinical trial, 50% of patients experienced at least a 20% reduction in serum ferritin within 1 year of therapy.1,6
Cardiac iron reduction
- In the clinical trial, there was an increase in cardiac MRI T2* from a mean at baseline of 11.8±4.9 ms to a mean of 15.1±7.0 ms after approximately 1 year of treatment.1,6†
Liver iron reduction
- In the clinical trial, 42% of patients experienced at least a 20% reduction in liver iron within 1 year of therapy ( 95% CI, 32%-51%).2†
† The clinical significance of this observation is not known.
‡ Serum ferritin indicates total body iron level.
Ferriprox tablets are also scored and may be broken in half for easy swallowing or dosage adjustments. Each half is 500 mg. Flexible titration across the dose range helps patients reach their chelation targets.
Talk to your patients about switching to Ferriprox Twice-A-Day.
How do I switch my patients to Ferriprox Twice-A-Day from Three-Times-A-Day tablets?
Ferriprox offers twice-daily dosing.
The FDA-approved dosage of Ferriprox is 37.5 mg/kg to 49.5 mg/kg actual body weight, orally, twice daily with food for a total daily dose of 75 mg/kg to 99 mg/kg.
In order to transition your patients to new Ferriprox Twice-A-Day tablets, a new Rx form must be completed.
Download the form here > or call Chiesi Total Care at 1-866-565-7794
What is the patient support program called and what can my patients expect from the program?
The patient support program is called Chiesi Total CareTM. Chiesi Total Care is a comprehensive support program that provides exceptional service to healthcare professionals and their patients. A single call to your dedicated Chiesi Total Care team is all it takes to guide you through the process of getting the patient started on Ferriprox therapy.