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Deferiprone (Ferriprox)

Raw research findings for this medication. Mostly single studies, not curated or confirmed robust.

About Deferiprone

What it is

Deferiprone is an oral iron chelator: it binds excess iron, including iron inside heart cells, so the body can pass it out in the urine. It is used for iron overload from regular blood transfusions in thalassaemia and sickle cell disease. Because it can rarely cause a severe drop in white blood cells, blood counts are checked regularly. It is sold as Ferriprox.

How genes come into it

Deferiprone is cleared mainly by the enzyme UGT1A6, which joins it to glucuronic acid. The gene studies on this page, from a small group of studies in thalassaemia, looked at UGT1A6 variants for how well it lowered iron and for side effects. The findings are weak, and there is no CPIC or DPWG guideline.

What research found

Every published finding on gene variants and Deferiprone. Upload your DNA file to see which of these rows apply to you.

Rated evidence (1 rated variant)

PharmGKB weighs all studies of a variant and rates how strong the evidence is, from 1A (strongest) to 4.

UGT1A6 rs6759892: Level 3. Efficacy, Toxicity: Beta-thalassemia and related diseases. 1.

Response (5 findings)

Studies of how well it worked in people carrying a variant.

UGT1A6 rs2070959: Genotype AA is associated with increased response to deferiprone in people with beta-Thalassemia as compared to genotypes AG + GG.

UGT1A6 rs2070959: Genotype AA is associated with increased response to deferiprone in people with beta-Thalassemia as compared to genotype GG.

UGT1A6 rs6759892: Genotype GG is associated with increased response to deferiprone in people with beta-Thalassemia as compared to genotypes GT + TT.

UGT1A6 rs1105879: Allele A is not associated with response to deferiprone in people with beta-Thalassemia as compared to allele C.

Study findings and evidence levels: PharmGKB (CC BY-SA 4.0). Guidelines: CPIC and DPWG, as bundled in PharmCAT. Most studies were done mainly in people of European ancestry.

Related Drugs

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Not a prescribing recommendation. This page is educational information about pharmacogenomic research and clinical guidelines - it is not medical or dosing advice, and not a prediction of how any medication will work for you. Never start, stop, or change a medication or dose based on it; talk to your doctor or pharmacist, who can order clinical-grade testing if appropriate.

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Content updated September 2026.

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