WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT• UGT1A6 has been proposed as the predominant isoform responsible for the glucuronidation of deferiprone.• UGT1A6*2allele has been associated with the altered enzyme activity.WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS• There is no statistically significant effect ofUGT1A6genotype on the single‐dose pharmacokinetics of deferiprone in healthy volunteers.• Gender influences serum pharmacokinetics of deferiprone.• Body iron stores reflected by serum ferritin levels may have an influence on the extent of extravascular deferiprone distribution.AIMSTo examine the effects ofUGT1A6polymorphisms on the pharmacokinetics of deferiprone in healthy volunteers.METHODSTwenty‐two healthy volunteers were enrolled and grouped according toUGT1A6genotype. After an overnight fast, the subjects received a single oral dose of 25 mg kg−1deferiprone. Blood samples were collected at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, 300 and 360 min after dosing. Urine output was collected at 0, 0–2, 2–4, 4–8, 8–12 and 12–24 h. Deferiprone (L1) and deferiprone‐glucuronide (L1G) concentrations in serum and urine were determined using a validated high‐performance liquid chromatography method.UGT1A6genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.RESULTSNo statistically significant differences in any pharmacokinetic parameters of either deferiprone or deferiprone‐glucuronide among the genotype groups were noted. Likewise, there were no statistically significant differences in 24‐h urinary deferiprone and deferiprone‐glucuronide excretion among the genotype groups. Significant differences between men and women were found in AUC0–∞,Vd/F, and CL/Fof deferiprone. Gender differences in 24‐h urinary deferiprone and its metabolite excretion, however, failed to reach statistical significance. TheVd/Fof deferiprone was found to correlate significantly with serum ferritin (rs = 0.665;P = 0.001).CONCLUSIONThe studied single nucleotide polymorphisms inUGT1A6do not appear to exert statistically significant effects on the single‐dose pharmacokinetics of deferiprone. Gender appears to influence the serum pharmacokinetics of deferiprone, but not urinary excretion of deferiprone and its metabolite. Body iron stores may have an influence on the extent of extravascular deferiprone distribution.