Deferasirox
| Evidence Level: L4 | Predicted Indications: 5 |
Table of Contents
Deferasirox: From Iron Chelation to HIV Infectious Disease
One-Sentence Summary
Deferasirox is an oral iron chelator with 20 US licenses, mostly generics. The TxGNN model predicts it may be relevant to HIV infectious disease, but there are 0 clinical trials and only 2 publications, one preclinical and one general drug review. This is a hypothesis, not a supported repurposing candidate.
Quick Overview
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Original Indication | Not listed in the provided data (approved indication text is empty for all licenses). Deferasirox is generally known as an iron chelator. |
| Predicted New Indication | HIV infectious disease |
| TxGNN Prediction Score | 99.40% |
| Evidence Level | L4 |
| US Market Status | ✓ Marketed |
| Number of NDAs | 20 |
| Recommended Decision | Hold |
Why is This Prediction Reasonable?
Detailed mechanism of action data is not currently available. Deferasirox is generally known as an iron chelator, and iron homeostasis is the only mechanistic thread in the evidence collected.
The link to HIV is indirect and preclinical. A 2021 study (PMID 34550543) suggests that iron inside endolysosomes restricts HIV-1 Tat-mediated transcription. Removing iron with a chelator could therefore weaken this restriction and help the virus, not hinder it. The direction of effect is unresolved. The other paper is a general 2006 new-drug overview with no HIV data.
The model also ranks chronic hepatitis C infection second. That literature concerns iron overload in thalassemia patients, not antiviral activity of deferasirox, and effective antivirals already exist for hepatitis C. The other three predictions (a rare neurodevelopmental disorder, an obsolete hyperlipidemia term and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans) have no supporting evidence at all.
Clinical Trial Evidence
Currently no related clinical trials registered.
Literature Evidence
| PMID | Year | Type | Journal | Key Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34550543 | 2021 | Preclinical / in vitro mechanistic study | Journal of Neurovirology | Endolysosomal iron restricts Tat-mediated HIV-1 LTR transactivation, apparently by increasing Tat oligomerization and β-catenin expression. It is not a deferasirox study, and chelation could plausibly work against HIV control. |
| 16529348 | 2006 | Review (new drug overview) | JAPhA | Overview of newly approved drugs including deferasirox. It contains no HIV-specific data. |
US Market Information
| Authorization Number | Product Name | Dosage Form | Manufacturer |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANDA211824 | Deferasirox | Tablet, film coated | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited |
| ANDA214474 | Deferasirox | Tablet, film coated | NorthStar Rx LLC |
| ANDA209878 | Deferasirox | Tablet, for suspension | MSN Laboratories Private Limited |
| ANDA213374 | Deferasirox oral | Granule | Ascend Laboratories, LLC |
The system counts 20 licenses in total. Only the four distinct listings above are shown, and all are generic (ANDA) approvals.
Safety Considerations
Please refer to the package insert for safety information. No drug interaction records were found for this drug in the queried source.
Conclusion and Next Steps
Decision: Hold
Rationale: The prediction rests almost entirely on the model score. The only mechanistic hint is preclinical and may point in the opposite direction, since iron chelation could relieve a restriction on HIV transcription. There are no trials, and no antiviral activity of deferasirox has been shown.
To proceed, the following is needed:
- Mechanism of action data for deferasirox
- Package insert warnings and contraindications (a blocking gap for safety screening)
- Full-text review of PMID 34550543 to determine whether iron chelation helps or harms HIV control
- In vitro data on deferasirox itself in HIV models
- Any registered trial or clinical observation in people with HIV
Disclaimer
This content is for research purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Clinical validation is required before any clinical application.