Dr. Garcia-Manero on Deferasirox in Iron Chelation Therapy for MDS

Guillermo Garcia-Manero, MD, chief, Section of Myelodysplastic Syndromes, deputy chair, Translational Research, professor, Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the new formulation of deferasirox (Jadenu) as an iron chelation therapy for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

Garcia-Manero says the new formulation of deferasirox may allow iron chelation therapy to be significantly easier for patients to tolerate. Less toxicity may allow for greater access and use of the compound.

However, Garcia-Manero adds that the therapy may be expensive, and that there is a need for more data. Results are anticipated for the randomized TELESTO trial, which examined the use of deferasirox in patients with MDS.