Alice Melão,  —

Articles by Alice Melão

23-year Study of Cancer Incidence Among SCD Patients is a Mixed Bag

Researchers have found that patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) have increased risk of developing leukemia, but lower risk for breast cancer or male genital cancers. These findings resulted from a population-based study titled “Increased risk of leukemia among sickle cell disease patients in California” that was published in…

Computer Model Reveals Underlying Mechanism of Hemoglobin S Fibers in Sickle Cell Disease

Researchers at Brown University have developed computer models that recreate what happens with hemoglobin molecules inside red blood cells  affected by sickle cell disease. Their study, “Mesoscopic Adaptive Resolution Scheme toward Understanding of Interactions between Sickle Cell Fibers,” appeared in the Biophysical Journal. It describes a virtual model authors hope…

European Agency Grants PRIME Access to GBT440 Therapy for Treatment of SCD

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has granted GBT440 — Global Blood Therapeutics’ lead drug candidate for sickle cell disease (SCD) — access to its Priority Medicines (PRIME) program. GBT440 is an oral, once-daily drug being developed to specifically inhibit hemoglobin polymerization and the consequent sickling of red blood cells, the hallmark…

Multidisciplinary Care Team Greatly Reduces Risk in Pregnant SCD Patients in Low-income Countries

According to a study published in the American Journal of Hematology, the presence of a multidisciplinary clinical team can dramatically reduce maternal and perinatal mortality rates in pregnant women with sickle cell disease (SCD), especially in under-developed and low-income countries. In recent decades, medical advances have significantly improved the survival of those…