Bluebird Bio has paused two clinical trials of LentiGlobin, its gene therapy candidate for sickle cell disease (SCD), after learning that a patient who received treatment more than five years ago now has developed acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a type of blood cancer. In line with study protocols,…
A good diet and companionship, or treatment with an antidepressant called duloxetine was seen to significantly lessen pain in a mouse model of sickle cell disease (SCD), a study reports. Notably, each intervention was associated with higher levels in the animals of serotonin, a brain chemical messenger involved in stabilizing…
Oxbryta (voxelotor) can help ease, or fully heal, painful leg ulcers in people with sickle cell disease (SCD), according to a post-hoc analysis of a Phase 3 trial. These promising findings support the launch of future trials investigating the potential benefits of Oxbryta — already conditionally approved…
Scores of virtual events are afoot around the world to mark Rare Disease Day 2021 on Feb. 28. The activities are focused on heightening awareness about rare diseases and the hundreds of millions of individuals they are thought to affect. Patients, caregivers, and advocates worldwide will sport denim ribbons…
A new National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) challenge will award a first prize of $25,000 to a team of college or graduate students who develop an innovative tool to help spread evidence-based information about sickle cell disease (SCD). A total of $50,000 will be granted to the three…
While progress was made last year on newborn screening and other policy issues critical to rare disease patients, a “State Report Card” argues that many concerns — notably out-of-pocket costs for prescription medicines and access to affordable comprehensive care — still need attention. Those were the findings of the…
Red blood cells in people with sickle cell disease (SCD) flow through blood vessels in a manner that damages the walls, which may explain blood vessel problems and increased inflammation in SCD, new research indicates. The study, “Flow-induced segregation and dynamics of red blood cells in sickle cell…
A recent manufacturing agreement between Aruvant Sciences and Lonza will advance the development of ARU-1801, an investigational gene therapy for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD). Under the agreement, Lonza will be responsible for producing Aruvant’s gene therapy for an upcoming pivotal clinical trial. The company already has…
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is reviewing an application from Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT) that seeks full marketing approval for the oral therapy Oxbryta (voxelotor) for people with sickle cell disease (SCD), ages 12 and up. Oxbryta would be the first treatment targeting the root cause of…
The two COVID-19 vaccines that recently received emergency approval from the U.S. and other worldwide regulatory agencies are expected to pose little risk to the rare disease community, including to patients with compromised immune systems or those participating in gene therapy studies. That was the message of a recent…
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