Deferasirox demonstrates a dose-dependent reduction in liver iron concentration and consistent efficacy across subgroups of non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia (NTDT) patients

The 1-year THALASSA study enrolled 166 patients with various non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia (NTDT) syndromes, degrees of iron burden and patient characteristics, and demonstrated the overall efficacy and safety of deferasirox in reducing liver iron concentration (LIC) in these patients. Here, reduction in LIC with deferasirox 5 and 10 mg/kg/day starting dose groups is shown to be consistent across the following patient subgroups - baseline LIC/serum ferritin, age, gender, race, splenectomy (yes/no) and underlying NTDT syndrome (\u3b2-thalassemia intermedia, HbE/\u3b2-thalassemia or \u3b1-thalassemia). These analyses also evaluated deferasirox dosing strategies for patients with NTDT. Greater reductions in LIC were achieved in patients dose-escalated at Week 24 from deferasirox 10 mg/kg/day starting dose to 20 mg/kg/day. Patients who received an average actual dose of deferasirox >12.5\u2013 6417.5 mg/kg/day achieved a greater LIC decrease compared with the 657.5\u2013 6412.5 mg/kg/day and >0\u2013