Hydroxyurea and EPO in Sickle Cell Disease

Last updated: April 14, 2025
Sponsor: Julia Xu
Overall Status: Completed

Phase

1/2

Condition

Sickle Cell Disease

Red Blood Cell Disorders

Anemia

Treatment

Epoetin Alfa

Hydroxyurea

Clinical Study ID

NCT05451940
STUDY21120027
  • Ages > 18
  • All Genders

Study Summary

The proposed study is a Phase 1/2 multi-center study evaluating the safety and efficacy of erythropoietin (EPO) in combination with hydroxyurea in the treatment of chronic anemia in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD).

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

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 60days prior to start of study drug) and plan to continue taking hydroxyurea at thesame dose and schedule during the study

  • If receiving L-glutamine or crizanlizumab, must have been receiving the drug at astable dose for at least 60 days prior to screening and plan to continue taking thedrug at the same dose and schedule during the study

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Participating in a chronic transfusion program (pre-planned series of transfusionsfor prophylactic purposes) and/or planning on undergoing an exchange transfusionduring the duration of the study; episodic transfusion in response to worsenedanemia or VOC is permitted, but participant should not have received a bloodtransfusion 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 ironwithin 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 diastolicblood pressure ≥100 mmHg; medical intervention indicated; more than one drug or moreintensive 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 5half-lives of that agent, whichever is greater) prior to start of study drug orplans to participate in another investigational drug trial

Study Design

Total Participants: 17
Treatment Group(s): 2
Primary Treatment: Epoetin Alfa
Phase: 1/2
Study Start date:
May 25, 2023
Estimated Completion Date:
February 27, 2025

Study Description

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a devastating inherited hemoglobin disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of pain and chronic hemolytic anemia. Chronic anemia contributes to multi-organ damage and decreased life expectancy in SCD. However, there are limited treatment options for anemia in SCD. Erythropoietin (EPO) is the standard of care for treatment of anemia related to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is also used ad hoc in patients with SCD. However, there is limited data on the safety and efficacy of EPO in patients with SCD, especially in combination with hydroxyurea. Therefore, this study aims to treat patients on stable hydroxyurea therapy with subcutaneous EPO, with the goal of assessing the safety of EPO therapy and its effect on chronic anemia in SCD.

(Note: Outcome measure changes were in place prior to study initiation.)

Connect with a study center

  • Lagos University Teaching Hospital

    Lagos, 102215
    Nigeria

    Site Not Available

  • UPMC

    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
    United States

    Site Not Available

Not the study for you?

Let us help you find the best match. Sign up as a volunteer and receive email notifications when clinical trials are posted in the medical category of interest to you.