Gene therapy hope for sickle cell: tiny trial tests One-Time fix

NCT ID NCT07436767

What the study statuses mean

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Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting This study
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This early study tests a gene therapy called KL003 in just 3 people with severe sickle cell disease. The therapy uses the patient's own stem cells, modified to produce healthy hemoglobin, to reduce painful crises and the need for transfusions. The main goals are to see if the treatment is safe and if the new cells successfully engraft in the bone marrow.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
KL003 cell injection (gene therapy using a patient's own stem cells modified to produce healthy hemoglobin)
What this could lead to
If it works, this could point toward a one-time treatment that reduces or eliminates painful crises and the need for blood transfusions in severe sickle cell disease.
What could go wrong
This is a very early, tiny trial with only 3 participants. It may fail to show benefit, and gene therapy carries risks like infection, immune reactions, or long-term side effects.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

About 3 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Expected to start

Mar 2026

An estimate. Start dates often move.

Expected to finish

Dec 2028

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

12 to 50 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * 12-50 years of age (inclusive) at the time of screening * Diagnosed with sickle cell disease (SCD) with a βS/βS, βS/β0 or βS/β+ genotype. * Experienced at least 4 severe vaso-occlusive events (VOEs) in the two years before informed consent, despite supportive care measures (e.g., a pain management plan). * Have a Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score (for subjects ≥16 years) or Lansky Performance Status (LPS) score (for subjects \<16 years) of ≥60. * Have experienced either hydroxyurea (HU) failure at any time in the past or demonstrated intolerance to HU. * Subject must have been treated and followed for at least two years before informed consent at the medical center that maintained detailed records of their sickle cell disease history. * Be willing and able to comply with all study procedures and visit schedules. * The subject and/or their legally authorized representative must voluntarily agree to participate, sign the informed consent form, and be capable of completing all follow-up assessments required by the protocol. Exclusion Criteria: * Have any severe active infection (fungal, bacterial, viral, tuberculosis, or other), including active Hepatitis B (defined as serum HBV-DNA ≥2000 IU/mL), active Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, positive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody, or active syphilis. * Inadequate bone marrow function, as defined by an absolute neutrophil count of \<1.0 x 10\^9/L (\<0.5 x 10\^9/L for subjects on hydroxyurea treatment) or a platelet count \<100 x 10\^9/L. * Have severe cerebrovascular disease, including a history of significant ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, abnormal Transcranial Doppler (TCD) flow velocities requiring chronic transfusion therapy (\>200 cm/s), occlusion or stenosis of the circle of Willis, or any history of moyamoya disease. * Baseline oxygen saturation \< 90% without supplemental oxygen (excluding periods of SCD crisis, severe anemia or infection). * Baseline carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO) \< 50% (corrected for Hb) in the absence of infection. If DLCO cannot be assessed due to age or cognitive limitations, there must be a normal respiratory exam, a chest radiograph without pulmonary infiltrates, and oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry ≥ 90% on room air. * Baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) \< 45% * Clinically significant pulmonary hypertension at baseline, as defined by the requirement for ongoing pharmacologic treatment or the consistent or intermittent use of supplemental oxygen. * Baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \<70 mL/min/1.73 m\^2 * Advanced liver disease * Have a definite contraindication to stem cell collection. * Have any prior or current malignancy, myeloproliferative disorder, or immunodeficiency disease. * Have white blood count \<3.0 x 10\^9/L and/or platelet count \<100.0 x 10\^9/L not due to hypersplenism. * Have a diagnosis of compound alpha-thalassemia (excluding silent carrier). * Have significant iron overload at screening, defined as severe iron overload on liver MRI, or serum ferritin levels \>2000 ng/mL, or cardiac T2\* \<10 ms. * Have positive irregular red cell antibodies or platelet antibodies. * Be eligible for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and have an identified willing, fully HLA-matched donor. * Prior receipt of gene therapy or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. * Immediate family member with a known or suspected Familial Cancer Syndrome (including but not limited to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer syndrome, and familial adenomatous polyposis). * Have a diagnosed major psychiatric disorder or predisposition that, in the Investigator's opinion, would severely compromise the ability to participate in the clinical study. * Have an uncorrectable coagulation disorder or a history of severe hemorrhagic disease. * Have any other condition that, in the opinion of the treating physician, renders the subject unsuitable for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. * Have a known allergy to the investigational drug(s) (e.g., plerixafor, busulfan) or their components. * Have participated in or are currently participating in another interventional clinical study within 3 months before screening. * Received a live vaccine within 6 weeks before screening. * Be pregnant or breastfeeding. * The subject or their partner is unwilling to use medically acceptable effective contraception during the 32-month study period. * Unable to receive red blood cell transfusion. * The subject or their parent/guardian is unable to adhere to the study protocol. * Have any other condition deemed by the Investigator to make the subject unsuitable for participation in this study.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

How to take part

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  1. The official record

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