Deferasirox

DEFERASIROX

Deferasirox is a tridentate chelator with a high affinity for iron and low affinity for other metals, eg, zinc and copper. It is orally active and well absorbed. In the circulation, it binds iron, and the com-plex is excreted in the bile. Deferasirox was approved by the FDA in 2005 for the oral treatment of iron overload caused by blood transfusions, a problem in the treatment of thalassemia and myelodysplastic syndrome. More than five years of clinical experi-ence suggest that daily long-term usage is generally well tolerated, with the most common adverse effects consisting of mild to mod-erate gastrointestinal disturbances (< 15% of patients) and skin rash (≈ 5% of patients).