Exjade (deferasirox): Boxed Warning - Changes to Prescribing Information re: risk of renal impairment/failure, hepatic impairment/failure or gast...

Exjade (deferasirox): Boxed Warning - Changes to Prescribing Information re: risk of renal impairment/failure, hepatic impairment/failure or gastrointestinal hemorrhage

Exjade (deferasirox): Boxed Warning
Audience: Hematology-Oncology healthcare professionals

Novartis Oncology and FDA notified healthcare professionals about recent changes in the Prescribing Information (PI) for Exjade, indicated for the treatment of chronic iron overload due to blood transfusions in patients 2 years of age and older. New language was added to the Contraindications, Warnings and Precautions, and Drug Interactions sections of the PI, including a Boxed Warning, that the product may cause:
renal impairment, including failure
hepatic impairment, including failure
gastrointestinal hemorrhage

In some reported cases, these reactions were fatal. These reactions were more frequently observed in patients with advanced age, high risk myelodysplastic syndromes, underlying renal or hepatic impairment or low platelet counts. Exjade therapy requires close patient monitoring, including measurement of serum creatinine and/or creatinine clearance as specified in the PI and serum transaminases and bilirubin as specified in the PI.

Read the complete MedWatch 2010 Safety summary, including a link to the Dear Healthcare Professional letter and revised Prescribing Information, at:
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm200850.htm