Sickle Cell Disease Insights

AB Science Receives Patent for Masitinib in SCD

April 16, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 1 minute

Latest Research

A recent study touched on the use of ketorolac in managing vaso-occlusive crises in sickle cell disease, which are episodes of severe pain due to blood vessel blockages. However, it did not find any significant analgesic advantage of using opioids over other treatments for these crises.

This suggests that current pain management strategies may need further evaluation to improve outcomes. While opioids are commonly used for pain relief, they may not offer significant benefits in this context. Further research is necessary to identify more effective strategies for managing these debilitating episodes (Tessitore et al., 2025).

Clinical Trials

This is a list of upcoming or ongoing clinical trials that are actively recruiting and have been listed or updated in the last two weeks:

Gene Correction in Autologous CD34+ Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HbS to HbA) to Treat Severe Sickle Cell Disease

Repeat Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation for Patients With Sickle Cell Disease and Falling Donor Myeloid Chimerism Levels

Rollover Study for Patients With Sickle Cell Disease Who Have Completed a Prior Novartis-Sponsored Crizanlizumab Study

Natural History of Sickle Cell Disease

View the full list of clinical trials →

Community News

Sickle Cell 101Apr 14, 2025

Stay hydrated, fam! 💧 For us with sickle cell, water’s not just a vibe—it’s a lifeline. Moms know best, right?

#sicklecell#sicklecell101

SCD Association of America, IncApr 09, 2025

URGENT ADVOCACY ALERT: We need your help to save the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Sickle Cell Disease Data Collection Program (SCDC). This program is crucial to improving nationwide care for sickle cell disease. We urge you to call or email your Representative and Senators to ask that they reverse the cuts and protect the existence of and funding for the Sickle Cell Data Collection Program. Read more here: https://buff.ly/uP0WZ4s

TWO EASY STEPS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

STEP ONE: Find contact information for your lawmakers’ offices!

-Find your Representative: https://buff.ly/pzHvDTq

-Find your Senators: https://buff.ly/txla4nE

-Call the Capitol switchboard at 202.224.3121 and ask them to connect you to your member’s office

STEP TWO: Say or email (please feel free to personalize)

I am [calling/emailing] as a member of the sickle cell disease community and as a constituent to ask that you protect the Sickle Cell Data Collection Program at the CDC. The recent HHS restructuring eliminated essentially all of the staff at the CDC’s Division of Blood Disorders, where the Sickle Cell Data Collection Program, the only surveillance system dedicated to sickle cell disease, is housed. This program helps collect important data on sickle cell disease which in turn:

-Helps lead to new and more effective treatments.

-Guides the development of interventions and policies that aim to improve care for sickle cell Warriors and lower costs for the healthcare system as a whole.

-Prompts where and when new clinics are built in order to best serve the community.

I am relying on you, as my [Senator/Representative] in Congress, to take action to ensure that the staff for this program are reinstated and to work to protect the funding for this critical program. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.

Global Alliance of Sickle Cell Disease OrganizationsApr 09, 2025

Acute Chest Syndrome (ACS) is a serious and life-threatening complication of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).

Read to understand more about Acute Chest Syndrome.

Like and share your thoughts!