Effect of Deferasirox on Endocrine Complications in Subjects With Transfusion Dependent Thalassemia

A Multicenter, Open-label, Single Arm, Interventional Phase IV Study, to Evaluate the Effect of Deferasirox on Endocrine Complications in Subjects With Transfusion Dependent Thalassemia

The CENTAurus trial is a prospective clinical study designed to address systematically some of the relevant endocrine complications in an iron overloaded thalassemic population, primary objective being the assessment of the effect of deferasirox therapy on glucose metabolism/homeostasis. Other endocrine parameters complementary or supportive to the primary objective will be assessed and analyzed during this study. A number of lab parameters related to other axes of the endocrine system will be collected and analyzed.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Beta thalassemia major and severe intermedia patients transfusion dependent and with transfusional iron overload 2. Patients with diagnosis of impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance 4.Patients naïve to deferasirox or patients who already receive deferasirox at sub-optimal doses 5.Cardiac MRI T2* >10 msec; 7.normal cardiac function (LVEF > 56%);

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Non transfusional hemosiderosis;
2. Patients with diabetes mellitus (genetic or secondary) or history of diabetes mellitus in 1st degree relatives;

4.Patients who received organ transplant; 5.Patients with galactose intolerance, severe lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption; 6.Patients unable to tolerate (or who have unacceptable toxicities to) prior treatment with deferasirox; 7.History of hypersensitivity to the study drug or any of its excipients; 8. Renal impairment 10. Liver impairment; 11.Patients with active chronic hepatitis B infection, active hepatitis C infection;

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply" at the end