What is Ferriprox® (deferiprone)?
Ferriprox is a prescription medicine used to treat people with thalassemia syndromes who have iron overload from blood transfusions when current iron removal (chelation) therapy does not work well enough.
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.
It is not known if Ferriprox is safe and effective to treat iron overload due to blood transfusions in people with any other type of anemia that is long lasting (chronic) or in children.
Learn more about Ferriprox >
Why did my doctor prescribe Ferriprox?
Iron removal (chelation) is important for patients with thalassemia syndromes who receive repeated blood transfusions. Repeated blood transfusions cause iron to build up in the body.
Iron can build up in organs such as the heart and liver. Chelation medications have been proven to effectively remove excess iron from the body. Different chelators have different abilities in removing the iron from the heart and the liver and lowering serum ferritin (reflecting total body iron level).
Ferriprox has been proven to reduce serum ferritin and iron levels in the heart and liver – and has been observed to remove excess iron from the heart.
Serum ferritin† reduction
- In the clinical trial, 50% of patients experienced at least a 20% reduction in serum ferritin within 1 year of therapy.1,12
Heart 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.1,12‡
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‡
Ferriprox has been proven to be suitable for patients with mild to severe reduction in kidney function or a mild to moderate reduction in liver§ function with no need to lower the dose.
ms = milliseconds
† Serum ferritin indicates total body iron level.
‡ The clinical significance of this observation is not known.
§ Ferriprox was not studied in patients with severely reduced liver function.
What is the leading cause of death in thalassemia patients?
Heart-related problems are the leading cause of death in thalassemia patients who receive repeated blood transfusions with iron chelation that is not working well enough.
If you receive repeated blood transfusions, the American Heart Association recommends yearly MRI T2* tests for the heart.
Different iron chelators remove iron from the heart differently. Talk to your doctor to see if Ferriprox is right for you.
The American Heart Association recommends that thalassemia patients who receive regular blood transfusions should get MRI T2* scans of the heart yearly. Where do I find the MRI T2* facility that is most convenient for me?
Cardiac iron monitoring by MRI T2* is important for patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia. Use the MRI T2* facility search to find the one nearest you.
How do I take Ferriprox?
Ferriprox is an oral medication that is taken either as a tablet or a liquid solution.
Ferriprox tablets offer twice-daily dosing. This means you get the same proven iron reduction with fewer doses per day.
Serum ferritin† reduction
- In the clinical trial, 50% of patients experienced at least a 20% reduction in serum ferritin within 1 year of therapy.1,12
Heart 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.1,12‡
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‡
† Serum ferritin indicates total body iron level.
‡ The clinical significance of this observation is not known.
Ferriprox tablets may be taken whole or crushed for ease of swallowing.
Talk to your healthcare provider about the formulation you prefer.
Is Ferriprox okay for patients with reduced liver or kidney function?
Yes. Ferriprox is suitable for patients with reduced kidney or liver† function. No change of the Ferriprox dose is required in patients with a mild to severe reduction in kidney function or a mild to moderate reduction in liver function.
† Ferriprox was not studied in patients with severely reduced liver function.
Talk to your doctor about switching to Ferriprox Twice-A-Day tablets >
What blood tests are recommended for me as a patient on Ferriprox?
Your doctor will do a blood test before you start Ferriprox and weekly during treatment to check your neutrophil count. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell and are important for fighting infections. If you develop a low neutrophil count (neutropenia), your healthcare provider should check your blood counts every day until your white blood cell count improves. Your healthcare provider may temporarily stop treatment with Ferriprox if you develop neutropenia or infection.
During treatment, your doctor will also do monthly blood tests to check your liver function. If necessary they may also check your zinc levels.
What do I do if I develop a fever or flu-like symptoms while taking Ferriprox?
If you develop a fever, sore throat or mouth sores, flu-like symptoms, or chills and severe shaking, follow these three steps:
A wallet card with these three steps printed on it is included in every one of your Ferriprox medication shipments. To learn more or request a wallet card, call the Chiesi Total CareTM team at 1-866-758-7071.
What formulations of Ferriprox are available?
Ferriprox is available in:
- 1000 mg Twice-A-Day tablets
- 1000 mg Three-Times-A-Day tablets
- 500 mg Three-Times-A-Day tablets
- 100 mg/mL oral solution
Talk to your doctor and pharmacist today about switching to Ferriprox Twice-A-Day tablets.
Interested in switching to the Ferriprox Twice-A-Day tablet? >
How do I switch to Ferriprox Twice-A-Day tablets?
Ferriprox tablets offer twice-daily dosing. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist (1-866-758-7071) about switching to new 2X daily Ferriprox DR tablets.
What is the patient support program called and what can I expect?
Chiesi Total CareTM offers one-stop patient support. A single call to your dedicated Chiesi Total Care team is all it takes to guide you through the process of getting started on Ferriprox therapy. Visit chiesitotalcare.com or call 1-866-758-7071. We’re ready to help!