A Multicenter, Randomized, Open-Label Trial Evaluating Deferasirox Compared with Deferoxamine for the Removal of Cardiac Iron in Patients with β-Thalassemia Major and Iron Overload (CORDELIA).

Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (21) ◽  
pp. 2124-2124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dudley J Pennell ◽  
John B Porter ◽  
Antonio Piga ◽  
Yongrong Lai ◽  
Amal El-Beshlawy ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 2124 Background: Without effective iron chelation therapy (ICT), patients with transfusional iron overload are at risk of excess iron-related cardiac complications. Cardiac iron accumulation can be measured using T2* magnetic resonance (normal >20 ms, high risk <10 ms). There are few randomized controlled trials assessing ICT for cardiac iron removal. CORDELIA is a Phase II, multinational, randomized comparison of efficacy and safety of 1-yr treatment with deferasirox or deferoxamine (DFO). Primary objective was non-inferiority of deferasirox vs DFO for cardiac iron removal after 1 yr. Methods: Patients with β-thalassemia major, cardiac T2* 6–20 ms, no clinical symptoms of cardiac dysfunction, aged ≥10 yrs, history of ≥50 transfusions, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥56% and liver iron concentration (LIC) ≥3 mg Fe/g dry weight (dw) were recruited. Patients were randomized to an intensified DFO regimen with a target dose of 50–60 mg/kg/d sc for 8–12 hrs, 5–7 d/wk, or deferasirox with a target daily oral dose of 40 mg/kg/d. Dose adjustment recommendations were based on continuous assessment of efficacy and safety markers. Efficacy was assessed in the per-protocol analysis population. Primary efficacy endpoint was change after 1-yr treatment (using last available value ≥150 d after randomization) in cardiac T2* expressed as the ratio of geometric means (Gmean) at end of study (EOS) over baseline (BL) for deferasirox divided by the ratio of Gmeans for DFO. Non-inferiority was pre-defined if the lower limit of the 2-sided repeated 95% confidence interval (CI) for ratio of Gmeans was >0.9. Results: From 925 screened patients, 197 patients (mean age 19.8 ± 6.4 yrs) were randomized. Mean time since start of transfusions was 19.3 and 18.4 yrs in deferasirox and DFO patients, respectively. All patients had received previous ICT. At BL, Gmean cardiac T2* was 11.4 ms; mean ± SD LIC was 29.8 ± 17.5 mg Fe/g dw in deferasirox patients and 30.3 ± 17.9 mg Fe/g dw in DFO patients; median (range) serum ferritin level was 5062 (613–15331) and 4684 (677–13342) ng/mL, respectively. 160 (81.2%) patients completed 1 yr. Mean actual dose of deferasirox was 36.7 ± 4.2 mg/kg/d and DFO was 41.5 ± 8.7 mg/kg/d for 7 d/wk. Overall, Gmean cardiac T2* increased by 12% with deferasirox and 7% with DFO after 1 yr (Fig A). The Gmean ratio between the two arms was 1.0557 (95% CI 0.9981, 1.1331). Lower limit of the 95% CI was >0.9, demonstrating non-inferiority of deferasirox vs DFO, with a trend towards superiority (P=0.0567). Trends toward increases were observed in patients with severe or mild/moderate cardiac iron (Fig B, C). In patients with BL LIC <7 mg Fe/g dw, increase in cardiac T2* was 30% for deferasirox (n=11) and 10% for DFO (n=8), for BL LIC 7–<15 mg Fe/g dw increase was 19% (n=14) for deferasirox and 13% (n=14) for DFO, and in patients with BL LIC ≥15 mg Fe/g dw increase was 9% (n=66) and 5% (n=59), respectively. LVEF was stable with deferasirox (BL 66.9 ± 5.61%; EOS 66.3 ± 5.8%) and DFO (BL 66.4 ± 5.2%; EOS 66.4 ± 5.8%). LIC absolute change from BL was –8.9 ± 11.4 (95% CI –11.5, –6.4) mg Fe/g dw for deferasirox and –12.7 ± 11.4 (–15.3, –10.1) mg Fe/g dw for DFO. Overall adverse event (AE) rates were 67.7% in deferasirox patients and 75.8% in DFO patients. In deferasirox patients, most common AEs were diarrhea (12.5%), proteinuria (11.5%) and influenza (10.4%). Most common AEs in DFO patients were proteinuria (8.8%), upper respiratory tract infection (8.8%) and influenza (6.6%). Serious AEs occurred in 10.7% patients overall (10.4% deferasirox; 11.0% DFO), with many related to the underlying disease. 3 deferasirox patients and 1 DFO patient had 2 consecutive serum creatinine increases >33% above BL and >upper limit of normal (ULN). Overall, 14.6% of deferasirox patients and 3.3% of DFO patients had ALT levels >5xULN and >2xBL. One death (arrhythmia) in the deferasirox arm was considered unrelated to study drug. One death (meningitis) in a DFO patient was suspected to be related to DFO. Discussion: CORDELIA, the first randomized controlled trial comparing deferasirox with DFO for cardiac iron removal, met its primary endpoint in demonstrating non-inferiority of deferasirox vs DFO, with a trend for superiority. There was a trend toward more pronounced improvements in cardiac T2* with deferasirox vs DFO in patients with BL LIC <15 mg Fe/g dw. The frequency of AEs was similar between treatment groups and the deferasirox safety profile was comparable to previous reports. Disclosures: Pennell: Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Siemens: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Apotex: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; CVIS: Equity Ownership. Porter:Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Piga:Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Lawniczek:Novartis: Employment. Habr:Novartis: Employment. Weisskopf:Novartis: Employment. Zhang:Novartis: Employment. Aydinok:Ferrokin: Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau.

Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 1016-1016 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Porter ◽  
Ali T Taher ◽  
Yesim Aydinok ◽  
Maria D Cappellini ◽  
Antonis Kattamis ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Patients with myocardial iron overload require effective cardiac iron removal to minimize the risk of cardiac complications. The 3 year EPIC cardiac sub-study showed that the oral iron chelator, deferasirox (DFX), effectively reduced cardiac iron overload. Previous reports demonstrate that cardiac iron removal is slow and suggest that liver iron concentration (LIC) may affect cardiac iron removal rate by chelators (Pennell et al., 2012; Blood). The objective of these analyses was to evaluate the impact of the severity of the liver iron overload on the change in myocardial T2* (mT2*) for patients receiving up to 3 years of DFX treatment in the EPIC sub-study. Methods Inclusion and exclusion criteria have been described previously (Pennell et al., 2012; Haematologica). Patients were categorized into LIC ≤15 and >15 mg Fe/g dry weight (hereafter mg/g) at baseline (BL) and by LIC <7, 7–≤15 and >15 mg/g at 12, 24, and 36 months to assess the impact of BL LIC and changes in LIC overtime on mT2*, respectively. During study, LIC and mT2* were measured every 6 months. Efficacy was assessed in per-protocol population that entered third year extension. Here, mT2* is presented as the geometric mean (Gmean) ± coefficient of variation (CV) unless otherwise specified. Statistical significance was established at α-level of 0.05 using a 2-sided paired t-test for within group comparisons and ANOVA for multiple group comparisons. All p-values were of exploratory nature for this post-hoc analysis. Results Of the 71 patients, who continued into study year 3, 68 patients considered evaluable were included in this analysis (per protocol population); 59 patients had LIC values available at end of study (EOS). Mean age was 20.5 ±7.35 years and 61.8 % of patients were female. Mean actual dose of DFX (mg/kg/day) was 32.1 ±5.5 and 35.1 ±4.9 in patients with BL LIC ≤15 and >15 mg/g, respectively. At EOS, mean actual doses were 32.9 ±5.4 (LIC <7 mg/g), 38.0 ±3.4 (LIC 7–≤15 mg/g), and 37.6 ±3.1 (LIC >15 mg/g). Overall, patients had high BL LIC (Mean, 29.0 ±10.0 mg/g); 61 patients had LIC >15 (30.8 ±8.8) mg/g, only 7 patients had LIC ≤15 (12.7 ±1.1) mg/g, and no patients had LIC <7 mg/g. After 36 months, a significant mean decrease from BL in LIC of -7.6 ±4.6 mg/g (p = 0.0049) and -16.8 ±14.0 mg/g (p <0.001) was observed in patients with LIC ≤15 and >15 mg/g, respectively. Notably, 51.9% of patients with BL LIC >15 mg/g achieved EOS LIC <7 mg/g. Overall, mean mT2* was 12.8 ±4.6 ms. The impact of BL LIC on mT2* and LIC response was as follows: in patients with LIC ≤15 mg/g (Mean BL mT2*, 14.2 ±3.6 ms) and >15 mg/g (BL mT2*, 12.7 ±4.7 ms), mT2* increased by 52% (Mean abs. change, 7.5 ±4.1 ms, p=0.0016) and 46% (7.3 ±7.3 ms, p<0.001), respectively. Patients with BL LIC ≤15 normalized mT2* in 24 months (Mean, 20.0 ±6.0 ms) versus 36 months for patients with BL LIC >15 mg/g, (20.1 ±10.6 ms) displaying a lag of nearly 12 months. The relation between post-BL LIC on mT2* response at 12, 24 and 36 months is shown in the figure. At 12 months, there was no significant difference in mT2* that had occurred in patients with LIC <7 mg/g (24% increase; mean abs. change, 3.5 ±2.3 ms), LIC 7–≤15 mg/g (19% increase; 3.4 ±5.2 ms) and those with LIC >15 mg/g (13% increase; 1.9 ±3.2 ms). However, at 24 months, there was a statistically significant difference amongst the 3 subgroups in percent increase in the mT2* that had occurred; patients with LIC <7, LIC 7-≤15 and LIC >15 mg/g had 54% (Mean abs. change, 8.3 ±7.3 ms), 33% (5.2 ±5.2 ms) and 10% (2.1 ±4.3 ms) increase (p <0.001), respectively. Similarly, at 36 months, the mT2* had increased by 71% (Mean abs. change, 10.3 ±6.6 ms) in the LIC <7 mg/g group; a 31% increase (5.3 ±5.0 ms) had occurred in the LIC 7– ≤15 mg/g group; and an 18% (3.3 ±6.0 ms) increase (p <0.001) had occurred in the LIC >15mg/g group. At all-time points, in patients who achieved an LIC <7 mg/g, a statistically significant increase in T2* from BL had occurred. Discussion Overall, DFX treatment resulted in a significant decrease in LIC and improved mT2*. A greater difference in mT2* improvement was shown to have occurred in patients who achieved lower end-of-year LIC after treated with DFX. This divergence was progressive with time, being maximal at 36 months. Thus, a therapeutic response in LIC with DFX is associated with a greater likelihood of improving mT2*. This may assist in monitoring liver and cardiac response to DFX. Prospective evaluation of this relationship is indicated. Disclosures: Porter: Novartis Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Shire: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy. Taher:Novartis Pharma: Honoraria, Research Funding. Aydinok:Novartis Oncology: Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Shire: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Cappellini:Novartis Pharma: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Genzyme: Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees. Kattamis:Novartis: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; ApoPharma: Speakers Bureau. El-Ali:Novartis Pharma: Employment. Martin:Novartis Pharma: Employment. Pennell:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; ApoPharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Shire: Consultancy, Honoraria.


Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 2257-2257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yesim Aydinok ◽  
Antonis Kattamis ◽  
M Domenica Cappellini ◽  
Amal El-Beshlawy ◽  
Raffaella Origa ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Transfusion-dependent patients with severe cardiac siderosis often require intensive iron chelation therapy for a limited time to facilitate rapid removal of iron from the heart, allowing patients to move from a high-risk (cardiac T2*<10 ms) to lower risk (≥10 ms) status for heart failure. Oral deferasirox (DFX) monotherapy has been shown to improve cardiac T2*, but data on the combined use of DFX and deferoxamine (DFO) are limited. Aim To evaluate efficacy and safety of investigational DFX–DFO in combination followed by DFX monotherapy in patients with severe transfusional cardiac siderosis. Methods The prospective, Phase II, open-label, multinational HYPERION study evaluated DFX–DFO in combination followed by DFX monotherapy in transfusion-dependent patients with severe cardiac siderosis (NCT01254227). Patients enrolled were ≥10 years with CMR-measured cardiac T2* 5–<10 ms, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥56%, R2-MRI liver iron concentration (LIC) ≥7 mg Fe/g dw. Starting dose was DFX 20 mg/kg/d, 7 d/wk, plus DFO 40 mg/kg/d, 5 d/wk for ≥8 hrs/d. DFX dose could be increased to 30 and 40 mg/kg/d after Month 1 and 6, respectively. Patients achieving cardiac T2* ≥10 ms and a relative T2* increase of ≥10% from baseline (BL) any time after 6 months were switched to DFX monotherapy. Combination therapy was resumed if cardiac T2* fell to <10 ms with a relative decrease of ≥10% from previous T2* value. Dose adjustments were based on efficacy and safety parameters. Primary efficacy endpoint was change in geometric mean cardiac T2* at Month 12 divided by that at BL. A key secondary objective was the proportion of patients achieving T2* ≥10 ms and a ≥10% relative increase from BL after 6 and 12 months. Efficacy was analyzed for all evaluable patients in the full analysis set (FAS) who received ≥1 dose of study drug and had a BL and post-BL assessment; cardiac T2* is also reported for patients with T2* at BL and Month 12 (12-month completers). Results 60 patients were enrolled (59 β-thalassemia major, 1 Diamond–Blackfan anemia; mean age 22.8 years; 46.7% male) with severe iron overload (geometric mean [Gmean] cardiac T2* 7.03 ms, mean LIC 33.4 ± 14.5 mg Fe/g dw, median serum ferritin 5551 ng/mL [range 1163, 11,317]). Overall, 20 patients discontinued; 5 consent withdrawals, 4 adverse events (AEs: pruritus, arthritis, abdominal pain, drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms), 4 abnormal test procedure results (all T2* <5 ms), 4 lost to follow-up, 2 administrative problems, 1 death (central nervous system infection, suspected relationship to DFO). Mean dose was DFX 29.6 ± 6.3, 7 d/wk, and DFO 37.4 ± 5.8 mg/kg/d, 5 d/wk. In the evaluable FAS (n=52, last observation carried forward) cardiac T2* increased 9% and LIC decreased 46% (Fig); serum ferritin levels decreased by 2174 ng/mL (–6138, 1570). Among 12-month completers (n=36), cardiac T2* increased from 7.24 at BL to 8.24 ms (14% improvement). In patients with BL LIC <30 and ≥30 mg Fe/g dw, cardiac T2* improvement was 17% (7.85 to 9.15 ms, n=16) and 6% (6.69 to 7.11 ms, n=36), respectively. Overall, 12.5 and 19.2% of patients achieved T2* ≥10 ms and ≥10% relative increase from BL at Month 6 and 12, respectively. Mean LVEF remained stable and no patient had cardiac failure. AEs with suspected relationship to study drug (≥5%) were abdominal pain, nausea (both 6.7%); increased blood creatinine, diarrhea, increased urine protein/creatinine ratio (all 5.0%). 1 patient had serum creatinine >33% increase from BL and >upper limit of normal at 2 consecutive visits. Discussion Cardiac T2* improved during 12 months of treatment with DFX–DFO in patients with severe transfusional body iron burden. High BL LIC levels decreased considerably with DFX–DFO. Overall, as LIC decreased cardiac T2* increased, most notably after 6 months. The higher DFX dose permitted after Month 6 possibly influenced this trend. Cardiac T2* improvements were observed irrespective of BL LIC value, but were most marked in those with BL LIC <30 mg Fe/g dw, consistent with previous data showing that cardiac iron removal follows liver iron removal (Noetzli Blood 2008). Safety of DFX–DFO was consistent with established monotherapy profiles, with no unexpected findings. 2-year follow-up for HYPERION will evaluate the impact of longer-term DFX–DFO in combination on liver and cardiac iron removal. Disclosures: Aydinok: Shire: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Off Label Use: Deferasirox and deferoxamine are both indicated as a monotherapy for the treatment of chronic iron overload due to frequent blood transfusions. Patients with severe cardiac iron overload are at increased risk of heart failure and are often treated by off-label combination therapy for a limited time to facilitate rapid removal of iron from the heart, allowing patients to move to a lower-risk status. This abstract describes off-label use of the combination of deferasirox and deferoxamine to treat patients with severe transfusional cardiac iron overload. Kattamis:Novartis: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; ApoPharma: Speakers Bureau. Cappellini:Genzyme: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Perrotta:Novartis: Research Funding. Karakas:Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding. Viprakasit:GPO, Thailand: Honoraria, Research Funding; Shire: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Habr:Novartis: Employment. Wegener:Novartis: Employment. Shen:Novartis: Employment. Porter, MD on behalf of the HYPERION investigators:Shire: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding.


Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 5111-5111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Taher ◽  
John B. Porter ◽  
Antonis Kattamis ◽  
Vip Viprakasit ◽  
Tomasz Lawniczek ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 5111 Background Clinically mild forms of thalassemia exist that, unlike β-thalassemia major, require no or only infrequent transfusions (eg. β-thalassemia intermedia, HbH disease). However, due to increased gastrointestinal iron absorption secondary to ineffective erythropoiesis these patients may still develop iron overload. For example, thalassemia intermedia patients (n=74) within a cross-sectional study had a mean serum ferritin (SF) of 1023 ng/mL (range 15–4140) and a mean liver iron concentration (LIC) of 9 mg Fe/g dw (range 0.5–32.1) at baseline despite most being transfusion-naïve (n=20) or rarely transfused (n=45), and only nine receiving regular transfusions (2–4 times/yr) (Taher et al. ITIFPaP: 13th International TIF Conference for Thalassaemia Patients & Parents, October 8–11 2008, Singapore, poster number MON04). Non-transfusional iron overload leads to the same serious clinical sequelae as transfusional iron overload, including liver, cardiac and endocrine dysfunctions. As patients with non-transfusional iron overload are not candidates for phlebotomy due to their underlying anemia, chelation therapy is the only available option for decreasing their iron burden. However, there is currently limited data available on the use of chelation in this population. The once-daily oral iron chelator deferasirox (Exjade®) is currently approved for the treatment of iron overload in patients with transfusion-dependent anemia. This prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II ‘THALASSA’ study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of deferasirox in patients with non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia. Methods Non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients aged ≥10 yrs will be randomized 2:1:2:1 to starting doses of deferasirox/placebo 5 mg/kg/day/ deferasirox/placebo 10 mg/kg/day over a planned 12-month treatment period. Doses can be doubled after 6 months should patients require a higher dose, which will be determined after 6 months of treatment. All patients are required to have a baseline LIC of ≥5 mg Fe/g dw, as measured by R2 magnetic resonance imaging, and SF levels of >300 ng/mL. Patients will be excluded if they have: anticipated regular transfusions during the study (sporadic transfusions, such as in cases of infection, are allowed); any transfusion within 6 months prior to study start, chelation within 1 month prior to study start; HbS variants of thalassemia; impaired renal and liver function. Primary efficacy endpoint is absolute change from baseline in LIC at 12 months; secondary efficacy endpoints include change from baseline in LIC after 6 months and in SF after 6 and 12 months, as well as change in hematological and iron metabolism parameters (eg hemoglobin, transferrin saturation). Safety assessments include adverse event and laboratory parameter monitoring. 156 patients are planned for inclusion. Results As of 3 August 2009, 18 sites had been activated. Sites currently activated are in Thailand (n=5), Turkey (n=4), Italy (n=3), Malaysia (n=2), UK (n=2) Lebanon (n=1). Fifty-seven patients have been randomized to either deferasirox or placebo and their demographic data are shown in Table 1. Conclusions Similar to transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients, non- transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients also develop iron overload. This ongoing study will generate prospective efficacy and safety data for the use of deferasirox in non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients with iron overload. To prevent long term complications due to iron overload, it is important to assess iron chelation in this patient population as they are not candidates for phlebotomy due to the underlying anemia. Disclosures Taher: Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding. Porter:Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Vifor International: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Kattamis:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Viprakasit:Thai Government: Employment; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Government Pharmaceutical Organization of Thailand: Honoraria, Research Funding. Lawniczek:Novartis Pharma AG: Employment. Pereno:Novartis Pharma AG: Employment. Schoenborn-Kellenberger:Novartis Pharma AG: Employment. Cappellini:Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Genzyme: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.


Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (22) ◽  
pp. 1288-1288
Author(s):  
Yesim Aydinok ◽  
Metin Delebe ◽  
Gunes Basol ◽  
Selen Bayraktaroglu ◽  
Nihal Karadas ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Ascorbic acid (AA) supplementation has traditionally been used in iron overloaded patients as means to increase iron chelation efficacy and replenish AA oxidized by labile iron found in those patients. The rationale leaned on AA's ability to render stored iron accessible to chelation, as found in urinary iron excretion following deferoxamine infusion. However, as AA increases labile iron redox-cycling and ensuing toxicity, we set to assess the long term benefits versus toxicity risks of the combined chelator-AA treatment. Objectives Perform a prospective, open-label, randomized and controlled 1 year study on thalassemia patients treated with deferasirox (DFX) in order to assess the effects of AA supplementation on: a. markers of systemic iron overload in selected organs and in plasma and b. markers of plasma labile iron (LPI) as potential contributors to oxidative stress toxicity. Patients and Methods Enrolment: 22 beta thalassemia major (TM) patients ≥10 years treated >2 years with DFX. Exclusion: cardiac dysfunction/arrhythmia or mT2* MRI <6 ms. Study: patients previously unexposed to AA received once-daily DFX (up to 40 mg/kg/d) with or without 125 mg AA for 1 year. All parameters were measured at baseline (BL); serum ferritin (SF) monthly, liver iron (LIC by MRI) and cardiac iron (mT2*MRI) after 1y. e-LPI (surrogate NTBI marker) and LPI (plasma redox-active labile iron marker) were assessed at BL, mo 1 & 6 by FeROS™ (Aferrix, Ltd) and fasting plasma AA at BL and EOS (fluorimetrically). Blood samples were withdrawn on the morning of transfusion day, 24 hours after last DFX (+/- AA) administration. Safety was followed using laboratory and clinical tests. AA levels were also determined in 23 healthy individuals (age and gender matched). Results 22 TM patients were enrolled (mean age 23.5, range 10-34 y). The average dose ± SD of DFX given to all 22 patients was 38±4.5 mg/kg/d. 11 patients were randomised to receive DFX and the others with DFX supplemented with 125 mg AA (mean 2.4±0.5, range 1.9-4.2 mg/kg) for 1 year. At BL, the AA levels were significantly lower in the TM group compared to controls (2.44 ± 3.38 vs 9.60± 4.36 mg/dl respectively, p<0.000001). 11 of 22 patients had AA levels >-2SD of control group whereas the other 11 patients showed normal ranges of AA. The AA deficient patients were those that showed significantly higher SF, LIC and lower mT2* at BL (Table 1). In the DFX+AA arm, 5/11 (45%) patients had subnormal AA levels at BL but attained normal status after 1 year, as did all others on AA. Of the 5/11 (45%) DFX-treated patients that did not receive AA had normal BL AA and only 2/11 maintained normal AA status at EOS. A significant correlation was obtained between BL SF, LIC and mT2* and e-LPI (r 0.49, p 0.025; r 0.57, p 0.01; r -0.43, p 0.057 respectively) but not with LPI. The changes associated with DFX alone or with AA from BL to EOS were subtle for all parameters measured (Table 2). Importantly, eLPI and LPI remained at basal levels throughout 6 months treatment in both arms. With DFX alone, LPI were 0.34±0.30 units (mM iron) (BL) & 0.63±0.58 (6 mo); eLPI: 1.71±1.93 at BL & 2.48±3.11 (6 mo). DFX+AA: LPI were 0.33±0.46 (BL) & 0.35±0.44 (6 mo); eLPI: 2.13±1.71 (BL) & 1.78±1.51 (6 mo). Conclusions TM patients on long term DFX without AA supplementation showed subnormal, AA levels. This was most pronounced in TM patients with higher liver and heart iron. The addition of AA to DFX normalized the AA levels but did not increase the e-LPI and LPI during 6 mo, indicating no apparent risk of iatrogenic toxicity by AA to DFX. Moreover, AA may enhance the efficacy of DFX in cardiac and hepatic iron. The small rise in SF versus fall in LIC in the DFX+AA arm might need further exploration. Table 1 Baseline characteristics of patients based on AA status Table 1. Baseline characteristics of patients based on AA status Table 2 Changes in iron overload markers in patients treated with DFX or DFX+AA over 1 year Table 2. Changes in iron overload markers in patients treated with DFX or DFX+AA over 1 year Disclosures Aydinok: Novartis Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Cerus: Research Funding; Shire: Research Funding. Cabantchik:Aferrix: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Hinoman: Consultancy; Novartis Pharmeceuticals: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Apopharma: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau.


Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 4069-4069
Author(s):  
John C. Wood ◽  
Alexis A. Thompson ◽  
Carole Paley ◽  
Tara Glynos ◽  
Barinder Kang ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 4069 Poster Board III-1004 Introduction Transfused patients with β-thal major are known to experience clinical consequences of cardiac iron overload despite the widespread use of iron chelation therapy. Approximately 71% of patients will suffer cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure (CHF) and death. Previous trials have confirmed the efficacy of deferasirox (Exjade®) in removing cardiac iron in patients with β-thal major. This ongoing study evaluates the effects of deferasirox on cardiac iron and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with β-thal major in a prospective, single-arm, multi-center trial using cardiac MRI T2*. All patients have completed 18 months of therapy and we also report preliminary results from 24 months. Methods 28 patients were enrolled at four US centers. Entry criteria included MRI evidence of cardiac iron (T2* <20 ms) and normal LVEF (≥56%). Deferasirox was administered at 30–40 mg/kg/day for 18 months. Following core study completion (18 months), patients could continue treatment for an additional 6 months if their 18-month cardiac T2* was <20 ms and they demonstrated ≥25% improvement in cardiac T2* or LIC from baseline. Serum ferritin (SF) was assessed monthly. Liver iron concentration (LIC), cardiac T2* and LVEF were assessed by MRI every 6 months. Serum creatinine (SCr), biochemical and hematological status were also monitored. All results are reported as mean ± SE (range) unless otherwise stated. Baseline: All 26 evaluable patients (7 M/19 F; aged 10–44 years) received ≥150 lifetime transfusions. SF was 4307 ± 613 ng/mL (312–12,655), cardiac T2* was 9.5 ± 0.8 ms (1.8–16.1), LIC was 20.6 ± 3.15 mg Fe/g dry weight (dw; 3.6–62.3) and LVEF was 61.8 ± 0.8%. Results At the time of analysis, 22 and 9 patients had 18- and 24-month evaluations, respectively. Six patients discontinued the core trial due to patient decision (n=2), adverse events (AEs; n=2) or abnormal lab tests (n=2). Two of these patients died after discontinuing; the first enrolled with markedly elevated baseline cardiac iron (T2* = 1.8 ms) and died secondary to CHF. The second patient withdrew due to an AE and died 2 months later due to sepsis and multi-organ failure. 18-month results: At 18 months, 10/22 patients were on 40 mg/kg/day. The mean improvement in cardiac T2* from baseline in all patients was 2.2 ms (22%; P=0.016), with 13 patients improving, four remaining stable (T2* change <10%) and five worsening. Baseline LIC was a powerful predictor of response (Figure); cardiac T2* in 14 patients with LIC <18.5 mg Fe/g dw improved 2.2% per month, with 13/14 patients showing large improvements and one patient remaining stable. In contrast, in eight patients with LIC >18.5 mg Fe/g dw, mean T2* worsened 1.4% per month (P<0.0001); three patients remained stable and five worsened significantly. Improvements in cardiac iron were correlated with changes in LIC (r2 = 0.27, P=0.013). In general, initial T2* did not predict therapeutic response, although all three patients with T2* <6 ms increased their cardiac iron. LIC decreased 4.1 mg Fe/g dw over the study interval (P=0.003). LVEF remained stable. 24-month results: At 24 months, 7/9 patients were on 40 mg/kg/day. Relative to the 18-month time-point, 8/9 patients (89%) increased their cardiac T2*, with a mean improvement of 2.7% per month. Mean LIC, SF and LVEF were unchanged over the extension. Safety parameters from patients treated with 30–40 mg/kg/day deferasirox (n=25) were in line with previous studies at 20–30 mg/kg/day. Conclusions Deferasirox monotherapy resulted in statistically significant improvements in cardiac and hepatic iron after 18 months. Baseline LIC <18.5 mg Fe/g dw was a strong predictor of favorable response. LVEF remained stable during the study. Patients in the extension (18–24 months) improved their cardiac T2* without further improvements in LIC or SF. Deferasirox monotherapy at 30–40 mg/kg/day provides good cardiac chelation in patients with moderate cardiac and liver iron burdens. More aggressive therapy is warranted for more severe iron overload. Disclosures: Wood: Novartis: Research Funding. Thompson:Novartis: Research Funding. Paley:Novartis Pharmaceuticals: Employment, Equity Ownership. Glynos:Novartis Pharmaceuticals: Employment. Kang:Novartis Pharmaceuticals: Employment, Equity Ownership. Giardina:Novartis: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Harmatz:Ferrokin: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Apotex: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Coates:Hope Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Sangart Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau.


Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 1011-1011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison S Thomas ◽  
Maciej Garbowski ◽  
Ai Leen Ang ◽  
Farrukh T Shah ◽  
J. Malcolm Walker ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 1011 Background. CMR was introduced in London to assess myocardial iron loading in 1999 and some of these patients now have 10 years of follow-up, most with contemporary CMR determinations. The impact of long-term monitoring of myocardial iron loading in thalassemia major (TM) on the proportion of patients with increased myocardial iron (cT2* <20ms) and on patterns of mortality has not been previously described in a longitudinal cohort over this duration. Patients and Methods. All patients regularly attending two London thalassemia centres, who received their first CMR Jan 1999 - Dec 2000 were analyzed as a cohort. Patients underwent initial CMR at the Royal Brompton Hospital and received CMR follow up (FU) either there or at the Heart Hospital (UCLH). 132 patients were identified as having received a CMR in 1999–2000. A minimum 7 years CMR FU was required for inclusion in the long-term CMR analysis. 109 patients had at least 7 years of CMR follow up (range 7.0–10.6 years, median 9.2). The median age at 1st CMR was 27.9 years (range 7.7 – 49.5 years). At baseline, patients were receiving chelation with deferoxamine (DFO) monotherapy (70%), deferiprone (DFP) monotherapy (21%), or a combination of these agents (9%). At latest FU, patients were receiving DFO (32%), deferasirox (DFX) (28%), DFP (22%), or combined DFP and DFO therapy (18%). Results: Improvement in cardiac iron: In 1999–2000, 60% of TM patients had cT2* values ≤20ms and 17% had cT2* values <10ms. By contrast, at long term FU, only 23% now have cT2* ≤20ms, 7% have cT2* values <10ms (p<0.001). Changes to chelation therapy: 31% of patients stayed on the same chelator; 33% had 1 chelator switch, 26% 2 switches and 11% 3 or more switches. 18 switches in chelation therapy were due to side-effects (12 DFP, 5 DFX, 1 DFO). There were 9 breaks in chelation therapy during pregnancy in 8 different women. The proportions of patients with T2* < 20ms fell significantly for those who remained on DFO or DFP monotherapies throughout, or who changed chelation modalities on only one (p=0.002) or two (p=0.02) occasions. Patients who received had 3 or more switches did not show a improvement in this respect. The latter group was also the only subset that showed significant deterioration in myocardial iron (p<0.001). Mortality rates: the overall mortality rate for the initial cohort was 1.65 per 1000 patient years (95% CI 0.71 – 3.24); median age at death 35.6 years (range 27.3–48.4). This is a substantial improvement in the mortality index compared with the UK thalassemia registry data, of 4.3 per 1000 patient years during the period 2000–2003 (Modell et al, JCMR, 2008). The incidence rate ratio is 0.387 (95% CI 0.11–0.961), p<0.05, with patients in our cohort 61% less likely to die than those in the 2000–2003 cohort. Causes of death: there were 8 deaths during the FU period: 3 with complications of hepatitis C (all with cT2* > 20ms), 3 with sepsis (2 with cT2* <10ms and impaired ejection fraction, 1 with cT2* of 18ms), 1 with breast cancer, 1 with sudden unexplained death (cT2* > 20ms). Thus in only 2 patients could excessive cardiac iron loading be considered a causal/contributory factor. There was no significant difference in the baseline cT2* between those who died and those currently still alive (p= 0.2), meaning that death as a drop-out cause does not explain iron loading trends over FU. Chelators at death: DFO (4), DFP (2), DFX (1), combination (1). Conclusions: Over a decade we have seen an almost 3 fold fall in the proportion of patients with myocardial iron overload. Mortality has become substantially lower and cardiac iron overload is no longer the leading cause of mortality. In addition to CMR, this decade has seen the advent of two new oral iron chelators and many patients switched chelation regimen, sometimes several times, during the follow up period. Whilst the contribution of the individual components of this practice to the improved outcome cannot be concluded without randomized studies, it is clear that this modern management of TM is associated with reduced TM mortality. Disclosures: Off Label Use: Deferiprone is off label in the USA but licensed in Europe. Shah:Novartis: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Apotex/ Swedish Orphan: Honoraria. Pennell:Siemens: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Apotex: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Cardiovascular Imaging Solutions: Director of CVIS, Equity Ownership. Porter:Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau.


Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 5299-5299
Author(s):  
Karen E Huang ◽  
Steven D Mittelman ◽  
Thomas D. Coates ◽  
Mitchell Geffner ◽  
John C Wood

Abstract Abstract 5299 Background: Thalassemia is one of the most common genetic blood disorders worldwide. With recent improvements in medical therapy, patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia, i.e., thalassemia major, are living longer. As a result, there is a greater need to address endocrine complications related to chronic iron overload. Adrenal insufficiency (AI), in particular, is important to identify because therapies are available and can be life-saving. Objectives: The objectives of this study are to determine the prevalence of AI in our population of subjects with thalassemia major; to identify risk factors that predict AI in these individuals; and to localize the origin of the AI within the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Methods: This is a prospective study of individuals with thalassemia major with an enrollment goal of 30 subjects. All subjects enrolled were initially tested for AI using a glucagon stimulation test. Those found to have AI (stimulated cortisol <18 mcg/dL) subsequently underwent an ovine corticotrophin-releasing hormone (oCRH) stimulation test for confirmatory purposes and to define the physiological basis for the AI. Results: Eleven subjects (8 - 29 years old, 6 female) have been enrolled to date. In our population of patients with TM, the prevalence of AI was 55%. There was no correlation between age, number of years transfused, or ferritin levels and AI. All male patients failed the glucagon stimulation test, whereas 5 of 6 females passed the glucagon stimulation test, p = 0.0024. There was no correlation between 8 AM ACTH levels and 8 AM cortisol levels. There was a significant correlation (p = 0.025) between 8 AM cortisol level and peak cortisol level following glucagon stimulation testing. Of the six subjects with AI, two subjects subsequently failed the oCRH stimulation test (peak cortisol < 21.9 mcg/dL). In these two subjects, peak oCRH ACTH levels were elevated, 144 and 164 pg/mL, respectively, suggesting primary adrenal insufficiency. Conclusions: We conclude that 8 AM cortisol level is a good predictor of adrenal insufficiency in our population, and can potentially be used as a simple screening test for AI with a strong negative predictive value. There appears to be a male predominance of AI in our population. This may indicate a protective role of female sex in this population. Two subjects had classic primary AI with robust ACTH levels in the face of inadequate cortisol production following oCRH testing. Four subjects (all males) who failed the glucagon stimulation test subsequently demonstrated normal ACTH and cortisol response to oCRH, indicating a possible hypothalamic origin to their AI. This dysfunction is likely independent of iron overload and warrants further investigation. Alternatively, these subjects may have impaired sympathetic nervous system function leading to hypoglycemic unawareness. Both outcomes are novel to the field and of medical significance. Disclosures: Geffner: Daiichi- Sankyo: Steering Committee for Clinical Trial; Eli Lilly, Inc.: Research Contract; Endo Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Genentech, Inc: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Ipsen: Data Safety Monitoring Board and Research Contract; Novo Nordisk: Research Funding; Pfizer, Inc.: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding.


Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (22) ◽  
pp. 2430-2430
Author(s):  
Eduard J van Beers ◽  
Wilma Barcellini ◽  
Stefan W. Eber ◽  
Janet L Kwiatkowski ◽  
Jennifer A Rothman ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: PKD causes a defect in glycolysis resulting in a hereditary non-spherocytic hemolytic anemia. The prevalence of iron overload is not well described for PKD. Aim: We aim to describe the demographic features and prevalence of iron overload in transfusion dependent and transfusion independent patients with PKD. Methods: Between March 2014 and April 2016, 203 patients enrolled on the PKD Natural History Study at 29 IRB approved sites. All patients were confirmed to have two compound heterozygous or homozygous mutations in the PKLR gene. Children < 1 year of age (n=9) were excluded from this analysis, because elevated ferritin levels are less reliably related to iron overload. Patients were designated with iron overload at the time of enrollment if the plasma ferritin was >1000 ng/mL or the patient was on chelation therapy at any time during the prior 12 months. Patients were designated with having had iron overload if a MRI ever showed liver iron content (LIC) >3 mg/g dry weight or if they had ever received chelation therapy. Tests of association were performed using Fisher's exact test (categorical) and Wilcoxon rank sum test (continuous). Linear associations between variables were measured by Pearson correlation coefficient. P-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Of the 194 patients, 111 (57%) were adults ≥18 years and 83 (43%) were children. The median age of enrollment was 20.6 y (range: 1.3-69.9). Splenectomy had been performed in 65% (126/194). Screening ferritin levels were available for 72% (140/194) and LIC for 32% (62/194). At enrollment, 48% (70/147) had iron overload as defined by ferritin and/or current chelation. Using the LIC criterion, iron overload had been present at some point in 86% (95/110) of patients. Ferritin positively correlated with LIC (n=45); r=0.62, p<0.0001. However, of 29 patients with an LIC measurement and a mean ferritin <1000 ng/mL, 15 (52%) had a LIC >3 mg/g DW. Baseline characteristics in patients with and without iron overload are shown in the Table. Notably, even in patients that were never regularly transfused and had a hemoglobin (Hb) >8.7 g/dl, the prevalence of iron overload was 26% (8/31). The frequency of iron overload was significantly higher in patients who had a prior splenectomy (p<0.0001), even after controlling for transfusion history (p<0.0001). Age was associated with iron overload (p=0.046); although, the age range of patients with iron overload was broad (1.3-69.9 years). The frequency of iron overload was significantly higher in those with a lower baselineHb(p=0.004) and higher bilirubin (p=0.03). Data on cardiac iron status was available for 66 patients.Only 2 had cardiac iron overload (defined as T2*<20ms); they were age 5 (T2* 17.8ms, LIC 5 mg/g) and 22 years (T2* 19.7ms, LIC 14 mg/g) at the time of the MRI. Of the 194 patients, 52 (27%) were from the Pennsylvania Amish community. These patients were managed differently than the non-Amish, in that only 2% of the Amish patients were on iron chelation therapy in the 12 months prior to enrollment compared with 43% among the non-Amish cohort. In addition, the Amish had a significant higher prevalence of splenectomy (96% vs 52%, p<0.0001) and proportion who had been historically transfused (79% vs 32%, p<0.0001). Despite these differences, the Amish patients had a lower prevalence of iron overload (34% vs. 51%). There was no significant difference inHbor enrollment age between the Amish and non-Amish cohorts. Conclusion: Iron overload is a common, serious complication in PKD, regardless of age, disease severity, or transfusion status. Although ferritin correlates with LIC for the PKD population overall, at the individual patient level, ferritin is not a good predictor of LIC and a ferritin <1000 ng/ml does not exclude hepatic iron overload. Therefore, we recommend that all patients with PKD starting at age 1 year should be screened annually for iron overload using ferritin and, at least once, using MRI. Disclosures Barcellini: Agios: Consultancy. Neufeld:Novartis: Consultancy. Morton:Agios Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding. Yaish:Octapharma: Other: Study investigator. Kuo:Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Alexion: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Apotex: Other: unrestricted educational grant; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Thompson:bluebird bio: Consultancy, Research Funding; Eli Lily: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Mast: Research Funding; Baxalta (now part of Shire): Research Funding; ApoPharma: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding. Grace:Agios Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding.


Blood ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 126 (23) ◽  
pp. 4570-4570
Author(s):  
Yong-Rong Lai ◽  
Rong Rong Liu ◽  
M Domenica Cappellini ◽  
Yesim Aydinok ◽  
John B Porter ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Although non-transfusion-dependent thalassemias (NTDT) and non-transfusion-dependent congenital or chronic anemias are found in Southern China, they are relatively rare diseases in China and there are little data evaluating iron chelation in Chinese patients. This 1-year analysis from the THETIS study investigated the efficacy and safety of deferasirox in a large subpopulation of Chinese patients. Early escalation of deferasirox doses (max: 30 mg/kg/day) was evaluated according to liver iron concentration (LIC). Methods: THETIS is an open-label, single-arm, multicenter, Phase IV, 5-year study with the primary endpoint after 1 year of treatment. For this subanalysis, Chinese patients ≥10 years of age with iron overload (LIC ≥5 mg Fe/g dry weight [dw] and serum ferritin [SF] ≥300 ng/mL) were enrolled. Exclusion criteria included: blood transfusions within 6 months of study enrollment or anticipated regular transfusions (unplanned transfusions allowed), Hb S/β thalassemia, active hepatitis B/C, cirrhosis, history of clinically relevant ocular and/or auditory toxicity; on two consecutive measurements: alanine aminotransferase >5× the upper limit of normal (ULN), serum creatinine >ULN, creatinine clearance ≤40 mL/min, or urine protein/urine creatinine ratio >1.0 mg/mg. All patients started deferasirox at 10 mg/kg/day. At week 4, deferasirox was increased according to baseline LIC (LIC >15, 20 mg/kg/day; LIC >7-≤15, 15 mg/kg/day; LIC ≥5-≤7, 10 mg/kg/day). At week 24, deferasirox was adjusted further: LIC >15, +5-10 mg/kg/day (max 30 mg/kg/day); LIC >7-≤15, +5 mg/kg/day (max 20 mg/kg/day); LIC ≥3-≤7, same dose. If LIC <3 or SF <300, therapy was held and restarted at the previously effective dose when LIC ≥5 and SF ≥300 (max 10 mg/kg/day). This sub-analysis evaluated absolute change in LIC and SF from baseline to week 52. Results: 68 Chinese patients were enrolled (median age 26.0, range 10-63 years) with Hb H disease (n=35), β thalassemia intermedia (n=21) or Hb E/β thalassemia (n=12). Most patients received prior transfusions (n=56/68, 82.4%); 20/68 (29.4%) patients received prior chelation. 57/68 (83.82%) patients completed 1 year. Patients who discontinued were most commonly lost to follow-up (n=4) or withdrew consent (n=3, personal or logistical reasons). Mean actual daily deferasirox dose ± standard deviation (SD) over 1 year (considering dose adjustments), was 16.21 ± 5.61 mg/kg/day. Mean LIC ± SD at baseline was 17.75 ± 12.37 mg Fe/g dw in Chinese patients, which decreased to 9.35 ± 6.83 mg Fe/g dw at week 52 (absolute change from baseline, -8.51 ± 8.58 mg Fe/g dw [95% CI -10.69 to -6.33]). Patients with higher LIC at baseline experienced a greater reduction in LIC by week 52 (Figure). Furthermore, 48 (70.6%) Chinese patients achieved an absolute decrease in LIC of ≥3 mg Fe/g dw, and 46 (67.6%) patients achieved a ≥30% relative reduction in LIC at the last assessment. At week 52, LIC was <3 mg Fe/g dw in 5 (7.4%) patients. Median SF (range) decreased in Chinese patients from a baseline of 1580 (333-6638) ng/mL to 872 (267-4315) ng/mL at week 52 (absolute median change, -423 [-5307 to -1669] ng/mL). At week 52, SF was <300 ng/mL in 1 (1.5%) patient. Adverse events (AE) regardless of causality were reported in 40 (58.8%) Chinese patients. Drug-related AEs were reported in 18 (26.5%) Chinese patients, most commonly gastrointestinal (abdominal discomfort, n=2; diarrhea and hematochezia, n=1 each) or skin related (rash, n=3; eczema, n=1). No patients discontinued because of AEs. One death occurred during the study (pneumonia leading to cardiac failure) that was not suspected to be drug-related. No patient had two consecutive serum creatinine increases of >33% above baseline or >ULN. No patient discontinued treatment due to notable liver or renal laboratory values. Conclusions: Deferasirox at 10 mg/kg/day escalated to a maximum of 30 mg/kg/day effectively reduced iron burden in Chinese patients. AEs were consistent with the known safety profile for deferasirox. Early dose escalation at week 4 and further adjustment at week 24 ensured that patients with iron overload achieved clinically relevant reductions in iron burden. These results were in alignment with the THETIS primary efficacy analysis, supporting early dose escalation of deferasirox to optimize chelation in more heavily iron-overloaded Chinese NTDT patients. Figure 1. Figure 1. Disclosures Cappellini: Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Genzyme/Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Aydinok:Cerus: Research Funding; Sideris: Research Funding; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Porter:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Shire: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy. Zhu:Novartis: Employment. Wang:Novartis: Employment. Qi:Novartis: Employment. Taher:Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding.


Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 4058-4058
Author(s):  
Ali Taher ◽  
Mohsen Saleh Elalfy ◽  
Amal El-Beshlawy ◽  
Dunhua Zhou ◽  
Lee Lee Chan ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 4058 Poster Board III-993 Background Despite the availability of effective chelators, many patients (pts) with β-thalassemia major (TM) present with high iron burden and serum ferritin (SF) >2500 ng/mL, demonstrated to be associated with significant negative outcomes including cardiac disease and organ failure. In the large, prospective EPIC trial including 854 TM pts who received prior chelation therapy, median baseline SF was 3139 ng/mL despite 10.8 yrs of therapy; hence the therapeutic goal was to reduce iron burden. Previous studies have shown that in TM pts with high transfusional iron, ≥30 mg/kg/day deferasirox (Exjade®) doses significantly reduce SF, while 20 mg/kg/day doses maintained SF levels. The objective of this analysis was to assess whether a mean actual deferasirox dose ≥30 mg/kg/day is effective in reducing SF in iron-overloaded pts with TM irrespective of prior chelation therapies. Methods Pts with TM (≥2 yrs) and transfusional iron overload as defined by SF levels ≥1000 ng/mL or <1000 ng/mL but with a history of multiple transfusions (>20 transfusions or 100 mL/kg of blood) and R2 MRI-confirmed liver iron concentration >2 mg Fe/g dry weight were enrolled. Initial deferasirox dosing (10–30 mg/kg/day) was dependent on transfusion requirements and adjusted according to the protocol by 5–10 mg/kg/day (range 0–40 mg/kg/day) every 3 months based on SF trends and safety markers. Pts previously chelated with monotherapy deferoxamine (Desferal®; DFO) or deferiprone (Ferriprox®; DFP) or a combination of both and who received a mean actual deferasirox dose ≥30 mg/kg/day over 1 yr were included. The primary efficacy endpoint was the change in SF at 1 yr from baseline (BL). Results Overall, 129 TM pts (15%) who were previously chelated with DFO and/or DFP were treated with a mean actual deferasirox dose of ≥30 mg/kg/day during the 1 yr EPIC trial; 83 pts received prior DFO or DFP monotherapy and 46 received a combination of both. Mean age was 19.5±8.2 vs 23.0±7.2 yrs in prior monotherapy and prior combination therapy pts, respectively. A mean of 167 mL/kg vs 191 mL/kg was transfused in the yr prior to study entry and the mean duration of prior chelation therapy was 11.7±7.7 yrs vs 14.5±7.9 yrs, respectively. During the study, mean transfusional iron intake was similar in both groups (0.36±0.2 and 0.34±0.1 mg/kg/day, respectively). In prior monotherapy pts (mean dose 33.9±2.2 mg/kg/day), median SF decreased from 4885 ng/mL at BL to 4282 ng/mL after 1 yr (Figure) resulting in a decrease from BL of 1024 ng/mL (P<0.0001) based on last-observation-carried-forward (LOCF) analysis. In prior combination therapy pts (mean dose 34.1±3.9 mg/kg/day), median SF decreased from 5921 ng/mL at BL to 4327 ng/mL (Figure) resulting in a decrease from BL of 886 ng/mL (P=0.0078; LOCF). In patients with labile plasma iron (LPI) at BL, 1.3±2.1 and 1.7±3.1 μmol/L in the prior monotherapy and combination therapy groups, respectively after 1 yr was reduced to 1.1±2.6 and 1.4±2.7 μmol/L (LOCF). Overall, five pts (3.9%) discontinued therapy. Reasons for withdrawal were adverse events (AEs; cardiac failure), abnormal laboratory values (increased transaminases), consent withdrawal, lost to follow-up and protocol violation (all n=1). The most common investigator-assessed drug-related AEs were rash (n=14, 10.9%) and diarrhea (n=12, 9.3%). One pt (0.8%) had serum creatinine >33% above BL and the upper limit of normal (ULN) on two consecutive visits and one pt (0.8%) had increased alanine aminotransferase >10xULN on two consecutive visits; levels were already elevated. Conclusions This heavily transfused subgroup of TM pts, who had received prior chelation therapy with DFO and/or DFP for an average >10 yrs, continued to have high SF levels >4500 ng/mL. Monotherapy with ≥30 mg/kg/day deferasirox for 1 yr led to significant and clinically relevant reductions in SF in these pts irrespective of previous chelation therapies and was well tolerated. Longer-term studies are required to assess whether continued deferasirox could reduce SF <2500 ng/mL to minimize serious complications of iron overload. Disclosures: Taher: Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding. Chan:Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding. Li:Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Lin:Taiwan Pediatric Onclogy Group (TPOG): Consultancy; Novartis: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Porter:Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Vifor International: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Sutcharitcharan:Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novo Nordisk: Honoraria. Habr:Novartis Pharmaceuticals: Employment. Domokos:Novartis Pharma AG: Employment. Roubert:Novartis Pharma AG: Employment. Cappellini:Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Genzyme: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.


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