Open-label, Multicenter Study Assessing Preference for Deferasirox Film-coated Tablet Compared to Dispersible Tablet

Study to evaluate patient preference of deferasirox film-coated tablet (FCT) or deferasirox dispersible tablet (DT) in patient with transfusion - dependent thalassemia or non-transfusion -dependent thalassemia as measured by preference questionnaire at Week 48

This was an open-label, multicenter, single arm, phase II study aimed at collecting data on preference for iron chelation therapy in patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) or non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia (NTDT) throughout a 48 week treatment period. Participants who were either chelator-naïve, or who were previously treated with iron chelators (excluding deferasirox) for at least 6 months continuously, were eligible to participate in this study.

The study was divided into 2 phases:

1. Core Phase:

   * Screening phase which lasted for a maximum of 4 weeks to determine patient eligibility followed by
   * Period 1: Participants were treated with deferasirox DT from Baseline visit Day 1 to Week 24
   * Period 2: Participants were treated with deferasirox FCT from Week 25 to Week 48:

   At the discretion of the investigator, patients could switch from deferasirox DT to deferasirox FCT at any time during Period 1 of the Core phase, and vice versa, from deferasirox FCT to deferasirox DT at any time during Period 2 of the Core phase. Re-switching treatments was not allowed within each period.
2. Extension Phase:

Participants could continue deferasirox FCT formulation as per the judgment of the investigator, through an extension phase for a maximum of 48 weeks months from the last dose of deferasirox FCT received at the end of period 2 in the Core Phase or until one of the end of study criteria defined is met, whichever came first. Participation in the extension phase was optional.

The end of study was defined as the earliest occurrence of one of the following:

* The patient reached Week 96 in the Extension phase.
* Deferasirox FCT was locally reimbursed for this indication (only applicable for the Extension phase)
* Another clinical study or post-trial access program became available that could continue to provide deferasirox FCT in this patient population and all patients ongoing were eligible to be transferred to that clinical study.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Prior to any screening procedures were performed, written informed consent/assent must be provided. For pediatric patients, consent was obtained from parent(s) or legal patient's representative. Investigators also obtained assent of patients according to local, regional or national guidelines.
2. Male and female patient aged ≥ 2 years
3. Deferasirox naïve patient or chelated naive patient or treated by other chelators for at least 6 months, such as:

   1. Deferiprone/ DFP
   2. Deferoxamine /DFO
   3. Combination (DFO + DFP)
4. Subject was willing to discontinue current iron chelation therapy at least 5 days prior to study day 1 and for the duration of the study
5. Patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia (independent of underlying condition) with transfusional iron overload as shown by a serum ferritin level of \> 1000 ng/ml at screening and if available, LIC \> 3 mg Fe/g dw within 6 months prior to screening
6. Patients with non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia with iron overload as shown by a serum ferritin level of ≥ 800 ng/ml at screening and if available, LIC ≥ 5 mg Fe/g dw within 6 months prior to screening

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Creatinine clearance below the contraindication limit in the locally approved prescribing information.
2. Serum creatinine level \> 1.5 x ULN (upper limit of normal)
3. AST (SGOT) /ALT (SGPT) \> 5 x ULN, unless LIC confirmed as \>10 mg Fe/dw within 6 months prior to screening visit.
4. Significant proteinuria as indicated by a urinary protein/creatinine ratio \> 0.5 mg/mg in a non-first void urine sample.
5. Patients with significant impaired gastrointestinal (GI) function or GI disease that might significantly alter the absorption of oral deferasirox (e.g. ulcerative diseases, uncontrolled nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, malabsorption syndrome, or small bowel resection).
6. Clinical or laboratory evidence of active Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C (HBsAg in the absence of HBsAb OR HCV Ab positive with HCV RNA positive).
7. Patients with psychiatric or addictive disorders which prevent them from giving their informed consent or undergoing any of the treatment options or patients unwilling or unable to comply with the protocol
8. Patients with a known history of HIV seropositivity (Elisa or Western blot).
9. History of malignancy of any organ system, treated or untreated, within the past 5 years whether or not there is evidence of local recurrence or metastases, with the exception of localized basal cell carcinoma of the skin.
10. Patients participating in another clinical trial or receiving an investigational drug. Patients who have recently completed treatment with an investigational product must have ceased this treatment for at least five times the half-life of the investigational product.
11. History of hypersensitivity to any of the study drug or excipients.
12. Significant medical condition interfering with the ability to partake in this study (e.g. systemic uncontrolled hypertension, unstable cardiac disease not controlled by standard medical therapy, systemic disease (cardiovascular, renal, hepatic, etc.).
13. Women of child-bearing potential, defined as all women physiologically capable of becoming pregnant, unless they were using effective methods of contraception during dosing of study treatment
14. Women were considered post-menopausal and not of child bearing potential if they had had 12 months of natural (spontaneous) amenorrhea with an appropriate clinical profile (e.g. age appropriate, history of vasomotor symptoms) or had had surgical bilateral oophorectomy (with or without hysterectomy) or tubal ligation at least six weeks ago. In the case of oophorectomy alone, only when the reproductive status of the woman had been confirmed by follow up hormone level assessment is she considered not of child bearing potential.
15. Sexually active males unless they used a condom during intercourse while taking drug and for 28 days after stopping study medication and should not father a child in this period. A condom was required to be used also by vasectomized men in order to prevent delivery of the drug via seminal fluid.