Novartis gets EU approval for Exjade

[Admin]

Novartis received the European Commission (EC) approval for Exjade (deferasirox) as a new treatment to help patients with transfusional iron overload in all 25 member states of the European Union (EU).

The approval brings to children and adults with a broad range of transfusion-dependent anaemias the only oral iron chelator to provide continuous chelation coverage with a single daily dose. The current standard of care is a cumbersome infusion via pump that often lasts eight to 12 hours and must often be done daily, a Novartis press release stated.

Exjade is the first oral iron chelator approved in the EU for use in patients

Read the details here...

[Vik]

great news finally!!

Novartis press release -



Exjade®, a breakthrough for patients with transfusional iron overload, gains European Union approval

Exjade the only oral iron chelator to provide continuous chelation coverage to remove excess total body iron with a single daily dose[1]
Adults and children receiving regular blood transfusions now have a convenient alternative to burdensome standard therapy through a once-daily drink
Iron chelation needed to help patients with thalassemia, sickle cell disease, myelodysplastic syndromes and other anemias who regularly receive transfusions

Basel, August 30, 2006 - The European Commission (EC) has granted approval for Exjade® (deferasirox) as a new treatment to help patients with transfusional iron overload in all 25 member states of the European Union (EU).

The approval brings to children and adults with a broad range of transfusion-dependent anemias the only oral iron chelator to provide continuous chelation coverage with a single daily dose[1]. The current standard of care is a cumbersome infusion via pump that often lasts eight to 12 hours and must often be done daily.

Exjade is the first oral iron chelator approved in the EU for use in patients with transfusional iron overload who have a wide range of underlying diseases. Exjade is approved in the EU for the treatment of chronic iron overload due to frequent blood transfusions in patients age six and older with beta thalassemia major.

--------- more on novartis.ca

[vikaskapoor]

grt news paaji ,

good info .

regards
vikas kapoor

[ashutosht]

hi All,
Is this available in India?

[faris rivera]

Anybody there who knows how much does a single daily dose cost? I think this sounds costly even my doctor says we have to earn more to afford this but even he cannot give the exact amount. Does the amount varies from each country? thanks

[Vik]

I think the cost varies in each country. The cost might not be the same across the countries.

[rong2liu]

I have some experience in the use of Exjade, each patient's daily dose is different in term of different weight. Novartis suggests patients begin to take this drug at 20mg/kg/d, but my experience tells me some patients have not obvious progress in iron chelation at 20mg/kg/d, so we have to prescribe more dose, for example 25mg/kg/d or 30mg/kg/d. Of couse, the total daily dose must be larger than the basic one.
In HongKong, thalassemia patient has to expense 7800 HongKong Dollars for one bottle Exjade(500mg/tablet, 28tablets/bottle) , it is very expensive. Now my some patients have to take two bottles(500mg/tablet), the total pay is quite expensive.
So thalassemia patient have to earn more money for the use of Exjade.

[pankajsethi]

if there is no pain how can one get a gain .
so for having a luxzery u need to have a moreeeeeeee money. but still its f9n

[sunny.singla]

no pankaj. in case of kelfer u hav only gain not pain

[diora]

can i find exjade in bulgaria?

[foka]

Hi all,

i just started, 5 days ago, with Exjade.
The cost here in Paris is for a month around 2800euros, which is coverd from the social security of French.
This 2800euros are for a 1875mg/day dose.

Bye
Fotis