Patricia Inácio, PhD,  science writer—

Editas Medicine has expanded its partnership with Azzur Cleanrooms on Demand (COD) for the manufacturing of EDIT-301, its experimental cell-based gene-editing therapy for sickle cell disease (SCD) and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia. If approved, the scaling up of EDIT-301 needs to follow current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) standards — set…

The European Commission has decided to revoke its conditional approval of Adakveo (crizanlizumab) for sickle cell disease (SCD) — meaning its developer, Novartis, will have to remove the antibody-based therapy from the market in all 27 countries that are part of the European Union. The decision came after…

The addition of briquilimab, Jasper Therapeutics’ investigational conditioning therapy, improved the success of a stem cell transplant in people with sickle cell disease (SCD), early data from the first three patients in a Phase 1/2 trial show. According to the company, two of the three patients, all treated…

Adding omega-3 or vitamin D supplements boosts the therapeutic effectiveness of standard of care therapy for sickle cell disease (SCD) children with vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs), a recent study shows. Omega-3 supplements reduced the number and severity of VOCs, while vitamin D lessened their severity only. Supplementation also reduced the…

People with sickle cell anemia are at a significantly higher risk of developing periodontitis, a serious gum disease, a study reported. In turn, periodontitis was associated with elevated levels of inflammation markers in patients and a three times greater chance of more than three painful vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs) each year.

Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at a high risk of developing severe symptoms after infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, one of the most recent variants of the virus that causes COVID-19, according to a new French study. In fact, more than 85% of children infected with…

A new cost-free program, called Sickle Cell Warrior program, designed to promote equitable care and provide information on clinical trials and financial assistance to sickle cell disease (SCD) patients has been launched by The National Marrow donor program (NMDP)/Be The Match. As part of this month’s SCD Awareness…

Lowering the risk of long-term complications, including organ damage and hemolytic anemia — driven by the destruction of red blood cells — are common goals for sickle cell disease (SCD) patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals, according to data from Global Blood Therapeutics’ international SHAPE survey. Survey results also…

The UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals in California has announced the addition of the Stad Center for Pediatric Pain, Palliative & Integrative Medicine, which is tailored for treating pain in children with disorders such as sickle cell disease. Harboring one of the most innovative and comprehensive programs of its kind in…

Treatment with hydroxyurea at the time of conception may be safe, but its use by women with sickle cell disease (SCD) during pregnancy was linked to twofold higher risks of both miscarriage and stillbirth, a U.S. study reported. Pregnant women taking hydroxyurea — used to reduce the frequency…