News

Some treatments for sickle cell disease or cancer can destroy germ cells that later develop into sperm, putting young boys at risk of reduced fertility in adulthood, a study suggests. These results could lead to a change in treatment guidelines, giving healthcare providers who are treating prepubescent boys the…

A U.S. Senate committee unanimously supported the Sickle Cell Disease Act of 2018, and Emmaus Life Sciences is also announcing its support of the bill. The Sickle Cell Disease Research, Surveillance, Prevention and Treatment Act of 2018 (S. 2465) seeks to improve the understanding of the healthcare system regarding sickle…

The oral therapy Endari (L-glutamine), developed by Emmaus Life Sciences, will soon be made available to patients with sickle cell disease in the United States military, along with 9.4 million of their beneficiaries, thanks to a new distribution agreement, the company announced. The agreement is between Emmaus and…

The HRI signaling protein was identified as a key negative regulator of hemoglobin production in red blood cells, unraveling a potential new therapeutic target for sickle cell disease (SCD). Using the gene editing tool CRISPR-Cas9, HRI was found to block the production of fetal hemoglobin, which carries iron…

Treatment with Endari (L-glutamine) leads to fewer pain crises and hospitalizations in patients with sickle cell disease, according to final results of a Phase 3 clinical trial. These results were published in the study, “A Phase 3 Trial of l-Glutamine in Sickle Cell Disease,” in the…

A simple blood test and other measures could help halt the rise of sickle cell anemia in Africa and prevent fatal complications, especially among children, a World Heath Organization (WHO) official said this month. People living in Africa make up some 66 percent of the approximately 120 million people…

White blood cells were seen to produce molecules that decrease a specific type of hemoglobin — the protein in red blood cells that’s responsible for the transport of oxygen — in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). These findings may help in the understanding of disease mechanisms, as well as resistance…

The Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia (SCFG) has partnered with Biotech Research Laboratories and the Phoenix Tears Foundation to raise money for the first clinical study focused on the effectiveness of cannabis oil in sickle cell disease (SCD)-related pain management. The initiative is in honor of World…

Music therapy can help ease pain in adults with sickle cell disease (SCD), a pilot study showed. A single session of music improvisation with a music therapist helped significantly diminish the intensity of patients’ pain and uplift their moods, the study noted. The research, titled “…

Children with sickle cell disease who experience obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a breathing disorder during sleep, are at risk of developing additional health problems, according to researchers. Their study, “Comorbid obstructive sleep apnea and increased risk for sickle cell disease morbidity,” was published in Sleep and…