• Safety and tolerabilty of deferasirox [ Time Frame: throughout the study ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
• Changes in liver iron concentration (LIC) [ Time Frame: From baseline to week 25 and weeks 49 and 77 of trial ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
• Changes in ventricular ejection fraction [ Time Frame: From baseline to weeks 25, 49 and 77 ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
• Ferritin, NTBI (LPI and DCI)& iron metabolism parameters [ Time Frame: From Baseline through week 25, and weeks 49 and 77 of trial ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
• Compliance with deferasirox [ Time Frame: Throughout the study ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]

• Safety and tolerabilty of deferasirox
• Changes in liver iron concentration (LIC)
• Changes in ventricular ejection fraction
• Ferritin, NTBI (LPI and DCI)& iron metabolism parameters
• Compliance with deferasirox

The purpose of this trial is to evaluate changes in cardiac iron as measured by MRI T2* in beta-thalassemia patients with deferasirox treatment.

• Beta-Thalassemia
• Iron Overload

Inclusion Criteria:

• - Male or female β-thalassemia outpatients on chronic transfusion therapy (defined as > 8 transfusions per year)
• Lifetime minimum of 100 previous packed red blood cell transfusions
• Patients currently on chelation therapy will require a one day wash out prior to the first dose of study drug
• Age ≥ 10 years
• Sexually active females of childbearing potential must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test and use an effective method of contraception, or must have undergone clinically documented total hysterectomy.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Ejection Fraction < 56 % measured using steady-state free precession imaging by MRI
• Contraindication to MRI, including cardiac pacemaker, brain aneurysm clip, implanted neurostimulator, insulin pump, cochlear implant, metal slivers in the eyes, intrauterine device or any other MRI incompatible metal implants or intractable claustrophobia
• Abnormal laboratory values as defined by the protocol
• Clinical or laboratory evidence of active Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C
• History of HIV positive test result (ELISA or Western blot)
• Uncontrolled systemic hypertension
• Second or third degree A-V block
• Life-threatening arrhythmias, including sustained ventricular tachycardia and aborted sudden death, within the last year
• History of cardiac conditions or unstable cardiac disease not controlled by standard medical therapy
• History of clinically relevant ocular toxicity related to iron chelation
• Systemic diseases (cardiovascular, renal, hepatic, etc.) which would prevent study treatment
• Pregnancy or breast feeding (documented negative pregnancy test required for study entry)
• Patients enrolled in an ongoing clinical trial of deferasirox (ICL670) cannot be withdrawn in order to participate in this study
• Treatment with systemic investigational drug within the past 4 weeks or topical investigational drug within the past 7 days
• Other surgical or medical condition which might significantly alter the absorption, distribution, metabolism or excretion of any drug
• History of non-compliance to medical regimens or patients who are considered potentially unreliable and/or not cooperative
• Other inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply