TheraRadar
Data updated: May 26, 2026

DEFERIPRONE

Iron Chelating Activity
Rare Disease Approved 2019-02-08

Deferiprone is an iron chelator that treats transfusional iron overload in adults with thalassemia syndromes. It is used when a patient's current chelation therapy is not working well enough to manage the excess iron. This medication helps patients who have accumulated too much iron in their bodies as a result of receiving frequent blood transfusions.

Source: FDA Label • Hikma • Iron Chelator

How DEFERIPRONE Works

This drug works by binding to ferric ions (iron III) to form stable complexes. These neutral complexes consist of three deferiprone molecules for every one iron ion. By binding to the iron in this way at physiological pH, the medication helps remove excess iron from the body.

Source: FDA Label
3
Indications
--
Phase 3 Trials
7
Years on Market

Details

Status
Prescription
First Approved
2019-02-08
Routes
ORAL
Dosage Forms
TABLET

Companies

Active Ingredient: DEFERIPRONE

DEFERIPRONE Approval History

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Original
New Indication
New Form
Label Update
18 FDA actions from 2019 to 2025
Dec 2025 ORIGINAL
Update
Aug 2025 SUPPL
Label · Labeling
Nov 2023 SUPPL
Label · Labeling

What DEFERIPRONE Treats

2 indications

DEFERIPRONE is approved for 2 conditions since its original approval in 2019. These indications span multiple therapeutic areas including oncology, immunology, and more.

  • Transfusional Iron Overload
  • Thalassemia
Source: FDA Label

DEFERIPRONE Boxed Warning

AGRANULOCYTOSIS AND NEUTROPENIA Deferiprone can cause agranulocytosis that can lead to serious infections and death. Neutropenia may precede the development of agranulocytosis. [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Measure the absolute neutrophil count (ANC) before starting deferiprone therapy and monitor regularly while on therapy. Interrupt deferiprone therapy if neutropenia develops. [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Interrupt deferiprone if infection develops, and monitor the ANC more fr...

DEFERIPRONE Competitive Set

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Filters applied: drops same-active-ingredient (505(b)(2) reformulations), route-mismatch (topical vs systemic), and cross-therapeutic-area matches in same-indication rings.

Drugs Similar to DEFERIPRONE

3 of 5

FDA-approved drugs for similar conditions. Compare mechanisms and indications to understand treatment alternatives.

AQVESME
MITAPIVAT SULFATE
1 shared
AGIOS PHARMS INC
Shared indications:
Thalassemia
DEFERASIROX
DEFERASIROX
1 shared
PHARMOBEDIENT
Shared indications:
Thalassemia
EXJADE
DEFERASIROX
1 shared
Novartis
Shared indications:
Thalassemia
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Clinical Trial Registry

15 trials
Trial Sponsor ID Phase Status Title
NCT02164253 SAFEFAIRALS 2012_69 2013-001228-21 Ph 2 completed Focal Accumulation of Iron in Cerebral Regions in Early ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) Patients
NCT02655315 FAIRPARKII 2015_22 2015-003679-31, Grant agreement No 633190 Ph 2 completed Conservative Iron Chelation as a Disease-modifying Strategy in Parkinson's Disease
NCT03293069 FAIR-ALS II 2016_76 2017-003763-35 Ph 2, Ph 3 completed Conservative Iron Chelation as a Disease-modifying Strategy in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
NCT07023666 INOVA-2023-159 Ph 2 recruiting Early Screening and Treatment of Heart Complication in Sickle Cell Disease
NCT02728843 SKY results posted LA48-0215 Ph 2 completed Study of Parkinson's Early Stage With Deferiprone
NCT02443545 results posted LA38-EXT Ph 4 terminated Long-term Safety and Efficacy of Ferriprox® in Iron Overloaded Patients With Sickle Cell Disease or Other Anemias
NCT02041299 FIRST results posted LA38-0411 Ph 4 terminated Efficacy and Safety of Ferriprox® in Patients With Sickle Cell Disease or Other Anemias
NCT01825512 results posted DEEP-2 Ph 3 completed Efficacy/Safety Study of Deferiprone Compared to Deferasirox in Paediatric Patients
NCT01391520 CRMD001-3001 Ph 3 withdrawn Efficacy and Safety of Deferiprone in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease Undergoing a Cardiac Catheterization and Receiving Contrast Agent
NCT02477631 SHEBA-15-1908-DM-CTIL Ph 2 completed Effect of Deferiprone on Oxidative-Stress and Iron-Overload in Low Risk Transfusion-Dependent MDS Patients
NCT01989455 results posted LA42-0113 Ph 1 completed A Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Study of the Safety and Pharmacokinetics of Single Doses of Intravenous Deferiprone in Healthy Volunteers
NCT01860703 results posted LA37-1111 Ph 4 completed Evaluation of Whether Deferiprone Affects QT Interval in Healthy Subjects
NCT01770652 results posted LA39-0412 Ph 4 completed An Open-label, Non-randomized, Parallel Group Study in Subjects With Mild, Moderate, Severe, or No Renal Impairment
NCT00943748 FAIR-PARK-I 2008-006842-25 2008_19/0838, A90113-62 Ph 2, Ph 3 completed Efficacy and Safety of the Iron Chelator Deferiprone in Parkinson's Disease
NCT00530127 LA29-0207 Ph 1, Ph 2 completed A Study Investigating the Safety and Tolerability of Deferiprone in Patients With Friedreich's Ataxia
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Active Pipeline

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Key Completed Trials

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Trial Timeline

Full development history with FDA approval milestones

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Understanding FDA Approval Types
Count Type What it means
- ORIG Original approval - drug first enters market
- SUPPL - Efficacy New indication (new disease/condition approved)
- SUPPL - Labeling Label text changes (warnings, dosing updates)
- SUPPL - Manufacturing Production changes (new facility)
- SUPPL - Chemistry Formulation changes (new dosage strength)

Green lines in the timeline show ORIG and Efficacy approvals - the clinically meaningful milestones.

DEFERIPRONE FDA Label Details

Indications & Usage

DEFERIPRONE is indicated for the treatment of Transfusional Iron Overload; Thalassemia.

⚠️ BOXED WARNING

WARNING: AGRANULOCYTOSIS AND NEUTROPENIA Deferiprone can cause agranulocytosis that can lead to serious infections and death. Neutropenia may precede the development of agranulocytosis. [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Measure the absolute neutrophil count (ANC) before starting deferiprone ther...

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FERRIPROX

Full clinical data, patents, trials, and competitive landscape for deferiprone.

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Data Sources

Data sourced from official FDA and NIH databases. Click links to verify on original sources.