Study to Evaluate Treatment Compliance, Efficacy and Safety of an Improved Deferasirox Formulation (Granules) in Pediatric Patients (2-<18 Years Old) With Iron Overload

This was a randomized, open-label, multicenter, two arm, phase II study to evaluate treatment compliance and change in serum ferritin of a deferasirox granule formulation and a deferasirox dispersible tablet (DT) formulation in children and adolescents aged ≥ 2 and \< 18 years at enrolment with any transfusion-dependent anemia requiring chelation therapy due to iron overload, to demonstrate the effect of improved compliance on iron burden. Randomization was stratified by age groups (2 to \<10 years, 10 to \<18 years) and prior iron chelation therapy (Yes/ No). There were two study phases which include a 1 year core phase where participants were randomized to a 48 week treatment period to either Deferasirox DT or granules, and an optional extension phase where all participants received the granules up to 5 years. Participants who demonstrated benefit to granules or DT in the core phase, and/or expressed the wish to continue in the optional extension phase on granules, were offered this possibility until there was local access to the new formulation (granules or film-coated tablet (FCT)) or up to 5 years, whichever occurred first.