Important Safety Information

EXJADE is available by prescription only.

There have been reports of serious kidney problems, liver problems, and blood disorders, some of which were fatal, in patients treated with EXJADE. There have also been reports of stomach irritation and bleeds, skin rash, hearing problems and vision disturbances, and serious allergic reactions.

Your doctor will conduct periodic blood and urine tests to monitor your kidney and liver function and blood health. You should also have annual eye and ear examinations. These tests are important because any serious reactions should be addressed in a timely manner. Alert your doctor if you are taking any NSAIDs, corticosteroids, or other medicines with potential to cause ulcers or stomach bleeding. If you have any reactions to EXJADE, speak with your doctor immediately.

Please see additional Important Safety Information.
Please see accompanying Full Prescribing Information.

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EPASS™ Complete Care

EPASS™ Complete Care Helps You Reach Your Treatment Goals with EXJADE

EPASS™ Complete Care is the special distribution system for EXJADE. As a patient enrolled in EPASS™ Complete Care, you can expect the support you need to succeed on EXJADE. And this valuable program helps you get the medicine you need for your chronic iron overload due to blood transfusions, as recommended by your doctor. It helps to make sure you stay on track with your EXJADE treatment plan. Here are some of the ways EPASS™ can help you:

  • One-on-one reimbursement support to guide you through the reimbursement process
    • Assists you with prior authorization appeals
    • Provides access to co-pay assistance through the HealthWell Foundation
    • Gives you access to Novartis Patient Assistance Programs

  • EXJADE ScriptAssist to help make treatment more accessible and more affordable
    • Initially provides patients with 6 uses (each use consists of up to $100 of out-of-pocket expenses for 1 EXJADE prescription
    • Patients who use ScriptAssist 6 times will receive an additional 3 uses
    • In addition to co-pay assistance provided to eligible patients by the HealthWell Foundation or the Chronic Disease Fund

  • Personal prescription delivery ensures you get your EXJADE prescription delivered to your home on time, or at the location of your choice (for example, your doctor's office)
    • Distributes EXJADE prescriptions through a specialty pharmacy partner
    • Calls to confirm you have received your initial prescription for EXJADE and answers any questions you may have
    • Reminds you to refill your prescription for EXJADE

  • A dedicated Nurse Case Manager from one of the specialty pharmacies helps you stay on track with your treatment with EXJADE
    • Calls you regularly to discuss how you are doing on EXJADE
    • Counsels you on the importance of taking your EXJADE
    • Gives you ongoing educational support to encourage you to stay on your treatment with EXJADE

Getting Your EXJADE Prescription Through EPASS™ Complete Care

With EPASS™ Complete Care, it takes approximately two to three weeks from initial enrollment to delivery of your prescription (fulfillment can take longer if there are reimbursement issues). To get EXJADE, follow these four steps:

Step 1: Enroll in EPASS™
If you are prescribed EXJADE, work with your doctor's office to completely fill out the EPASS™ Complete Care application form.

EPASS Complete Care Application Form
> Download EPASS™ Complete Care
  Application Form
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Step 2: Talk With Your Specialty Pharmacy
You will receive a phone call from one of the three EPASS™ pharmacies (Accredo Health Group, BioScrip, or U.S. Bioservices). It is important that you promptly return any phone calls from the pharmacy, as your confirmation is needed to fill the prescription. The pharmacy will:

  • Review your prescription drug coverage
  • Collect or arrange for copayment
  • Discuss your medication with you
  • Confirm the delivery address and schedule the delivery date of your medication

Step 3: Get Your Prescription
Your prescription will be shipped to your home or location of choice via overnight delivery.

Step 4: Refill Your Prescription
You will be contacted by your EPASS™ pharmacy before your prescription runs out to coordinate and schedule your next prescription.


Getting In Touch With Us Is Easy

If you have any questions about how to get EXJADE or about your specific EPASS™ application, please call the EPASS™ hotline at 1-888-90-EPASS (1-888-903-7277).

Once you have been assigned a specialty pharmacy, you can also contact that pharmacy directly with any questions about getting your EXJADE.


Ask Questions - Increase Your EXJADE IQ

The more you know about your treatment with EXJADE, the better. Your doctor and your EPASS™ Nurse Case Manager have many of the answers. Here's a list of questions you may want to ask your Nurse Case Manager:

  • How will treatment with EXJADE help me?
  • How will I know if EXJADE is working?
  • How long should I continue taking EXJADE?
  • Does my insurance plan cover EXJADE?
  • If my insurance plan does not cover EXJADE, how can I obtain financial assistance for my treatment?
  • If I have a question or need assistance, how do I contact you?

A Nurse Case Manager will reach out to you when you begin taking EXJADE, as well as thereafter for continued support. If you have any questions, you also may contact your EPASS™ Nurse Case Manager by calling your specialty pharmacy during normal business hours. If you call outside of these hours, please leave a message with your name, telephone number, and reason for your call and your Nurse Case Manager will return your call.


Specialty Pharmacies That Carry EXJADE:

Accredo Health Group: 1-866-352-4042
U.S. Bioservices: 1-877-263-7089
BioScrip: 1-866-807-0516

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EXJADE is indicated for the treatment of chronic iron overload due to blood transfusions (transfusional hemosiderosis) in patients 2 years of age and older.

Further studies are being performed to determine the long-term benefits and risks of EXJADE.

EXJADE is available by prescription only.

Important Safety Information About EXJADE

People who are allergic to EXJADE or any ingredient of EXJADE should not take EXJADE.

Before you start EXJADE, your doctor will give you blood tests, because EXJADE may affect your kidneys, liver, or blood. The blood tests will be performed every month to check your kidney, your serum ferritin levels, and your blood count. To test your liver function, your doctor will also test your blood every 2 weeks during your first month of treatment, and then monthly after that.

Kidney: If you are at increased risk of complications because you have a pre-existing kidney condition, are elderly, have multiple medical conditions, or are taking medicine that affects your kidneys, your doctor will give you a blood test every week for the first month you are taking EXJADE or if your dose has changed, and then every month after that. Your doctor may also collect urine samples monthly.

Some patients developed severe kidney problems, in some cases fatal, while on EXJADE. Most of the fatalities occurred in patients who were very ill because of their disease. There may be increased risk of complications for patients who already have a kidney condition, are elderly, have multiple medical conditions, or take medicine that affects kidney function.

Blood Disorders: Some patients developed blood disorders, in some cases fatal, while on EXJADE therapy, but it is not known whether this was a result of EXJADE therapy or other causes, as most of these patients already had diseases affecting their blood.

Liver: Some patients developed severe liver problems, in some cases fatal, while on EXJADE. Many of these patients were greater than 55 years of age and/or had multiple medical conditions already affecting their liver.

Allergic Reactions: Serious allergic reactions (which include swelling of the throat) have been reported in patients taking EXJADE, usually within the first month of treatment. If reactions are severe, stop taking EXJADE and contact your doctor immediately.

Stomach: Some patients developed stomach irritation or bleeds while on EXJADE. Talk to your doctor if you are taking other drugs which can also irritate your stomach or cause a stomach bleed (e.g. NSAIDs, corticosteroids, oral bisphosphonates, blood thinners).

Hearing and Vision Tests: You may also receive a hearing or vision test prior to receiving EXJADE and yearly thereafter. Your dose of EXJADE may be changed if needed based on the results of these tests.

Serious Reactions: Should you develop swelling of the throat, a severe rash, or any hearing problems or vision disturbances, please contact your doctor immediately.

How to Take EXJADE: EXJADE should be taken once daily on an empty stomach, at least 30 minutes prior to food, preferably at the same time every day.

EXJADE should not be chewed or swallowed whole, and should not be taken at the same time as aluminum-containing antacids (for example, Maalox®).

Other Medicines and EXJADE: If you are taking other medicines, such as birth control pills, diabetes drugs, seizure drugs, cholesterol lowering drugs, or medicine for serious illnesses, talk to your doctor. EXJADE may affect how these drugs work.

Common Side Effects: The most commonly reported side effects related to EXJADE in clinical trials were mainly nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, increases in kidney lab values, and skin rash. These side effects were mild to moderate in severity. If you experience diarrhea or vomiting you should ensure that you continue to drink fluids.

*Maalox is a registered trademark of Novartis Consumer Health, Inc.

Full Prescribing Information

The prescribing information includes detailed information on how EXJADE works, clinical studies, risks/side effects, drug interactions, and dosing for patients.

Read the full prescribing information for EXJADE® (deferasirox) Tablets for Oral Suspension.