We are happy to inform you that the study entitled “Evaluation of the effectiveness and safety of deferiprone compared to deferasirox in pediatric patients with transfusion-dependent hemoglobinopathies (DEEP-2): a multicenter, randomized, open label, non-inferiority, phase-III trial” has been accepted for publication in The Lancet Haematology Journal.

The DEEP-2 study is a Phase III multicentre, randomised, open label, non-inferiority active-controlled trial aiming at comparing for the first time the efficacy of deferiprone (DFP) versus deferasirox (DFX) in paediatric patients aged from 1 month to less than 18 years, affected by hereditary haemoglobinopathies.

Overall 393 patients were randomized between March 17, 2014 and June 16, 2016 and the study has involved a total of 23 centres: Italy (12), Egypt (3), Greece (1), Albania (2), Cyprus (1), Tunisia (1), UK (3).

DEEP-2 is one of three studies foreseen in the DEEP (DEferiprone Evaluation in Paediatrics) project, a 6-year European Project (FP7) coordinated by Consorzio per Valutazioni Biologiche e Farmacologiche (CVBF). The DEEP Project has been developed with the specific intent to integrate the existing information on deferiprone use in paediatric patients, thus covering the lack of information and providing a valid support to the use of the drug in this class of age.

Further information is available on the official DEEP website.