New iron pill could ease anemia in pregnancy for thousands

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Pregnant women aged 18 to 35 years. * Gestational age between 13 and 26 completed weeks, confirmed by last menstrual period and/or early ultrasound dating. * Diagnosed with moderate to severe iron deficiency anemia (IDA), defined as: Hemoglobin concentration between 7.0 g/dL and \<9.9 g/dL, and Serum ferritin concentration \<30 μg/L * Singleton intrauterine pregnancy confirmed by ultrasonography. * Willing to comply with study procedures and follow-up schedule up to 6 weeks postpartum. * Euthyroid or euthyroid with medications * Normal in anomaly scan * Received ANC check up duly * History of folic acid intake in ANC visit * Willing to conduct delivery at the study center or at a facility within the study catchment area. * No known plans to leave the study area before completion of follow-up. Exclusion Criteria: * Known hypersensitivity or intolerance to ferric citrate, ferrous fumarate, or any excipients in the formulations. * Presence of non-iron deficiency anemia (e.g., megaloblastic anemia, hemoglobinopathies, hemolytic anemia, anemia of chronic disease) estimated by PBF * Baseline hemoglobin concentration \<7.0 g/dL or requiring urgent transfusion according to the best clinical judgement of the consultants * Serum ferritin ≥30 μg/L at baseline. * Severe concurrent medical conditions including: Chronic kidney disease (Stage 3 or higher) Decompensated liver disease Active tuberculosis or other chronic infections Diagnosed malignancy * Pre-existing preeclampsia, or eclampsia, or gestational hypertension * Gestational diabetes or type 2 diabetes mellitus in the current pregnancy. * Multiple pregnancy (e.g., twins, triplets). * Gastrointestinal conditions affecting iron absorption (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, previous gastric or intestinal surgery). * Use of intravenous iron therapy within previous 2 weeks of the present trial. * Any other condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, may jeopardize the participant's safety or interfere with study outcomes or compliance.