Exjade cuts high iron levels in b-thalassemia

Swiss drug major Novartis says that new data show once-daily Exjade (deferasirox) reduces life-threatening iron levels in the heart and liver in beta-thalassemia patients. Interim results from an ongoing trial show that, at six months, approximately 78% of participants had decreases in cardiac iron and 90% of patients had falls in hepatic iron. The results were reported at the 49th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, held in Atlanta, Georgia.

"These preliminary data are very encouraging. At a dose of 30mg/kg, Exjade lowered both heart and liver iron levels in most patients," said Farrukh Shah, a consultant hematologist at the UK's Whittington Hospital. "These data add to the growing body of evidence that Exjade successfully removes iron from the heart. This is particularly important because iron cardiotoxicity remains the leading cause of death in thalassemia major patients," he added.