Sickle cell hope: drug combo raises hemoglobin in early trial
NCT ID NCT05451940
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether adding erythropoietin (EPO) to the standard drug hydroxyurea can safely raise hemoglobin levels in adults with sickle cell disease. Seventeen participants with chronic anemia took both drugs for 12 weeks. The main goal was to see if at least a 1.0 g/dL increase in hemoglobin occurred, while also tracking transfusion needs.
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
-
Phase 1/2
Runs two stages together: safety and dose first, then whether the treatment works.
- Participants
-
17 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
May 2023
- Finished
-
Feb 2025
- 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
-
18 years and older
- 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 Hide 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: * Aged ≥ 18 years * Confirmed diagnosis of SCD (HbSS or HbS/β0-thalassemia genotypes) * Screening Hb ≤ 9.0 g/dL * Screening transferrin saturation ≥ 20% and ferritin ≥ 50 ng/mL * Must be on stable-dose hydroxyurea treatment (i.e., no changes in dose within 60 days prior to start of study drug) and plan to continue taking hydroxyurea at the same dose and schedule during the study * If receiving L-glutamine or crizanlizumab, must have been receiving the drug at a stable dose for at least 60 days prior to screening and plan to continue taking the drug at the same dose and schedule during the study Exclusion Criteria: * Participating in a chronic transfusion program (pre-planned series of transfusions for prophylactic purposes) and/or planning on undergoing an exchange transfusion during the duration of the study; episodic transfusion in response to worsened anemia or VOC is permitted, but participant should not have received a blood transfusion within 60 days of start of study drug * Received voxelotor or EPO within 30 days of start of study drug * Untreated iron deficiency, or had initiation or change in dose of supplemental iron within 30 days of start of study drug * Ongoing acute illness, infection, or VOC within 2 weeks of start of study drug * Arterial or venous thrombosis within 180 days of start of study drug * Grade 3 hypertension (defined as systolic blood pressure ≥160 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥100 mmHg; medical intervention indicated; more than one drug or more intensive therapy than previously used indicated) on two consecutive measurements * Unstable angina, uncontrolled seizure disorder, or active malignancy * End-stage renal disease requiring hemodialysis * Current pregnancy or breastfeeding * Received active treatment on another investigational trial within 30 days (or 5 half-lives of that agent, whichever is greater) prior to start of study drug or plans to participate in another investigational drug trial
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Anemia, sickle cell are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
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.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Lagos University Teaching Hospital
Lagos, 102215, Nigeria
-
UPMC
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can adding common pain drugs reduce morphine needs in sickle cell crises?
- Gene editing offers hope for a One-Time sickle cell cure
- Tiny biochip could reveal sickle cell severity
- Can a milder transplant cure sickle cell and thalassemia in adults?
- Can an antioxidant supplement calm sickle cell blood cells?
- Can a softer transplant cure sickle cell disease?