FDA Approves New Formulation for Ferriprox (Deferiprone) Twice-a-Day Tablets

Chiesi Global Rare Diseases, a business unit of Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ferriprox® (deferiprone) twice-a-day tablets for the treatment of patients with transfusional iron overload due to thalassaemia syndromes, when current chelation therapy is inadequate. The new formulation of twice-a-day Ferriprox 1000 mg oral tablets eliminates the mid-day dose.

“The availability of a new twice-a-day oral tablet formulation of Ferriprox provides patients with the ability to reduce serum ferritin levels and cardiac and liver iron,” said Giacomo Chiesi, Head of Chiesi Global Rare Diseases “This important milestone for Chiesi Global Rare Diseases is another reflection of our commitment to innovation to improve the lives of patients living with rare diseases around the world.”

Deferiprone is engineered to inactivate iron by binding it in the tissues and circulation. Iron is then excreted from the body primarily via urine.

“In the management of patients with thalassemia, clinicians often see firsthand the difficulties they can have with dosing and compliance, and the impact that this can have on the effectiveness of treatment,” stated Thomas Coates, MD Section Head, Hematology at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, in a prepared statement. “A treatment option that reduces serum ferritin, cardiac iron and liver iron with an established safety profile and now twice-a-day tablet dosing can represent a significant advantage for patients.”

READ THE FULL PRESS RELEASE ON THE FDA APPROVAL FOR FERRIPROX HERE.