A new treatment for anemia in adults with beta-thalassemia?

November 18, 2019 Health Care Comments Off

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved luspatercept-aamt (Reblozyl) for treatment of anemia in adult patients with beta thalassemia, also called “Cooley’s anemia, who require regular red blood cell transfusions.

Dose: The recommended starting dose is 1 mg/kg once every 3 weeks by subcutaneous injection.

Adverse effects: Headache, bone pain, arthralgia, fatigue, cough, abdominal pain, diarrhea and dizziness

Warning and precautions

  • Patients may experience hypertension while using the drug. Health care professionals are advised to monitor a patient’s blood pressure during treatment and to initiate anti-hypertensive treatment if necessary.
  • Patients who receive luspatercept-aamt should be monitored for thrombosis.
  • Health care professionals should tell females of reproductive age to use effective contraception during treatment with luspatercept-aamt.
  • Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take luspatercept-aamt l because it may cause harm to a developing fetus or newborn baby.

(Source: US FDA)

Dr KK Aggarwal

Padma Shri Awardee

President Confederation of Medical Associations in Asia and Oceania (CMAAO)

Group Editor-in-Chief IJCP Publications

President Heart Care Foundation of India

Past National President IMA