Deferiprone Lipomed

Deferiprone Lipomed can only be obtained with a prescription and treatment should be started and maintained by a doctor who has experience in the treatment of patients with thalassaemia.

Deferiprone Lipomed is available as 500 mg tablets to be taken by mouth. The usual dose of Deferiprone Lipomed is 75 mg per kilogram body weight each day, divided into three separate doses. Doses above 100 mg/kg a day are not recommended because of a potentially increased risk of side effects. The doctor may adjust the dose of Deferiprone Lipomed depending on the patient’s response, which should be measured every two to three months with blood tests. The doctor may interrupt treatment if iron levels in the body get too low.

For more information about using Deferiprone Lipomed, see the package leaflet or contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Patients with thalassaemia major need frequent blood transfusions. When patients receive repeated transfusions, the transfused red cells bring iron into the body. However, the body does not have a natural way of removing excess iron, so it builds up. Over time, the excess iron can damage important organs such as the heart or liver. The active substance in Deferiprone Lipomed, deferiprone, is an iron chelator. It attaches to iron in the body to form a compound that can be excreted by the body, mainly in the urine, and to a lesser extent in the stools. This helps to correct the iron overload and prevent damage due to excess iron.

Studies on the benefits and risks of the active substance in the authorised uses have already been carried out with the reference medicine, Ferriprox, and do not need to be repeated for Deferiprone Lipomed.

As for every medicine, the company provided studies on the quality of Deferiprone Lipomed. The company also carried out a study that showed that it is ‘bioequivalent’ to the reference medicine. Two medicines are bioequivalent when they produce the same levels of the active substance in the body and are therefore expected to have the same effect.

Because Deferiprone Lipomed is a generic medicine and is bioequivalent to the reference medicine, its benefits and risks are taken as being the same as the reference medicine’s.

The European Medicines Agency concluded that, in accordance with EU requirements, Deferiprone Lipomed has been shown to have comparable quality and to be bioequivalent to Ferriprox. Therefore, the Agency’s view was that, as for Ferriprox, the benefit of Deferiprone Lipomed outweighs the identified risk and it can be authorised for use in the EU.

The company that markets Deferiprone Lipomed will ensure that patients taking the medicine, or their carers, are provided with a reminder card with information on how to take the medicine safely.

Recommendations and precautions to be followed by healthcare professionals and patients for the safe and effective use of Deferiprone Lipomed have also been included in the summary of product characteristics and the package leaflet.

As for all medicines, data on the use of Deferiprone Lipomed are continuously monitored. Side effects reported with Deferiprone Lipomed are carefully evaluated and any necessary action taken to protect patients.

Deferiprone Lipomed received a marketing authorisation valid throughout the EU on 20 September 2018.