Marisa Wexler, MS,  senior science writer—

The gene-editing therapy Casgevy (exagamglogene autotemcel) safely and effectively prevents vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs) in children as young as 5 years old with severe sickle cell disease (SCD), according to preliminary data from a Phase 3 clinical trial. As of the latest follow-up, all children in the…

As part of a program to support children with sickle cell disease (SCD) and cancers, supplemental insurance company Aflac has released a new children’s book that aims to illustrate how empathy and compassion can help people, especially children, who are facing health problems. The book, titled “Beyond Words,” is…

Disc Medicine says it’s planning to launch a clinical trial before the end of the year that will test DISC-3405, its treatment candidate for reducing high iron levels and easing iron overload, in people with sickle cell disease (SCD). “We’re … excited about the progress across our iron…

A blood test measuring a protein called placental growth factor (PlGF) may help identify women with sickle cell disease (SCD) who are at risk of developing early-onset preeclampsia, a new study shows. Preeclampsia is a disorder marked by high blood pressure and excess protein in the urine, which is…

People with sickle cell disease (SCD) seeking emergency care for vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs) are often not triaged appropriately, leading to unnecessarily long waits for pain relief. A recent study finds that assigning the correct Emergency Severity Index score, a tool used in emergency departments to prioritize care based…

Mortality rates related to sickle cell disease (SCD) have increased in the U.S. in recent decades, while mortality for people with cystic fibrosis (CF) has declined over the same time period, a study shows. “Several factors contribute to this stagnation, including under-resourced care systems, limited access to first-line…

Scientists at New York University (NYU) are teaming up with Nigerian-born music artist Adekunle Gold on a project to improve the lives of people affected by sickle cell disease (SCD). The collaboration was announced at an event held earlier this month as part of National Sickle Cell Awareness…

Young people with sickle cell disease (SCD) who live in areas with more air pollution are more likely to be hospitalized due to acute chest syndrome (ACS), an SCD complication marked by symptoms that can include chest pain and difficulty breathing, a study found. “As ACS is a…

People with severe sickle cell disease (SCD) have reported significant improvements in their quality of life after receiving the approved gene-editing therapy Casgevy (exagamglogene autotemcel). That’s according to a new analysis of data from patients involved in a clinical trial that had tested the SCD treatment in individuals…

Correctsequence Therapeutics’ experimental gene-editing therapy CS-101 has been used to treat a person with sickle cell disease (SCD) for the first time. Prior to treatment with CS-101, the patient — a 21-year-old woman from Nigeria — had been experiencing frequent vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs), or painful episodes caused by…