Azernews.Az

Iran currently experiencing severe shortages of Deferoxamine, the Secretary of Iranian Thalassemia Society, Mohammad Rza Mashhadi said, Kayhan News newspaper reported.

Deferoxamine is a bacterial siderophore produced by the actinobacteria Streptomyces pilosus. It has medical applications as a chelating agent used to remove excess iron from the body.

"The situation is so bad that some patients who have not received their treatment for two months or so," Mashhadi said.

He noted that after the Novrooz holidays the flow of patients to the Thalassemia Society has increased, however the patients cannot be treated.

"The shortage of Deferoxamine has existed for two years already," Mashhadi said. "We have not been able to do anything about this shortage, and the patients are trying to cope with this problem."

Iran experiences certain difficulties with drug shortages in the country, largely because of the international sanctions imposed on Iran, due to its disputed nuclear program.

Despite the fact that the sanctions do not directly target the medical supplies and food, many companies refuse to deal with Iran, fearing the impact of the sanctions.