What the trial was testing
The DEEP-2 enrolled 435 patients with beta-thalassemia. The study was sponsored by Consorzio per Valutazioni Biologiche e Farmacologiche and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
It was a large trial designed to confirm whether the treatment works well enough for wider use. Trials at this stage are designed to produce evidence regulators and physicians can act on — not just observations to follow up later.
What the results showed
Equal performance — 55% vs. 55% iron control success at one year.
The Lancet Haematology · 2020 · NCT01825512
These findings — that iron control success on deferiprone vs. deferasirox in pediatric thalassemia — were published in the The Lancet Haematology and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 435 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with beta-thalassemia, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
Both deferiprone (Ferriprox) and deferasirox (Exjade, Jadenu) are FDA-approved for iron overload from chronic transfusions and available now. Deferiprone requires blood count monitoring for a rare but serious low-white-cell side effect. Ask a hematologist which oral chelator fits your child.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open beta-thalassemia trials
A Post-Marketing Surveillance Study to Assess Safety of Luspatercept in Korean Patients With Myelodysplastic Syndrome or β-thalassemia
The purpose of this observational study is to assess the real-world safety of luspatercept in Korean participants with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or beta thalassemia. Investigators will enroll participants who will begin treatment with at least 1 dose of luspatercept.
Myeloablative Conditioning, Prophylactic Defibrotide and Haplo AlloSCT for Patients With Sickle Cell Disease
This is a follow-up trial to NYMC 526 (NCT01461837) to assess the safety, efficacy and toxicity of administering Defibrotide prophylaxis for high-risk sickle cell or beta thalassemia patients undergoing a familial haploidentical or MUD allogeneic stem cell transplantation with CD34 enrichment and T-cell addback. This patient population historically has a risk of developing sinusoidal obstructive syndrome (SOS) and Defibrotide has demonstrated efficacy in treatment of SOS. The Funding Source is FDA OOPD.