At-home glycan medicine to stop sickle cell pain crises
Official title: A novel glycan-based selectin and complement inhibitor for at-home disease-modifying rescue of pain crisis in sickle cell disease
Funded at Ihp Therapeutics, INC. · NIH-11134763 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new at-home glycan medicine that blocks P-selectin and complement to stop or shorten painful vaso-occlusive crises for adults with sickle cell disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ihp Therapeutics, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Carlos, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 18, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $982,081 |
| NIH project number | 4UH3NS134781-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11134763 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with sickle cell disease who experience vaso-occlusive pain crises and can self-administer an at-home treatment would be the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Children, people without sickle cell disease, and patients whose crises already require immediate hospital-level care may not benefit from an at-home therapy.
What this research studies
This project is developing IHP-102, a novel glycan-based medicine you could take at home when a vaso-occlusive episode (pain crisis) starts. It is designed to act on multiple pathways that cause blood vessel blockages and pain, including P-selectin and the complement system, aiming to stop the crisis rather than just mask pain. The goal is to enable self-management, reduce the need for emergency care and opioid pain relief, and lower the long-term pain burden many adults with sickle cell disease face. Clinical testing will determine if IHP-102 shortens crises, reduces hospital visits, and is safe for at-home use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could let adults with sickle cell disease treat pain crises at home, reduce hospital visits and opioid use, and lower long-term pain burden.
How similar studies have gone: Drugs that block P-selectin (for example crizanlizumab) have reduced vaso-occlusive crises, but a glycan-based agent that also targets complement for at-home rescue is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Ihp Therapeutics, INC.
San Carlos, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: John Paderi, John Paderi John Paderi — Ihp Therapeutics, INC.
- Study coordinator: John Paderi, John Paderi John Paderi
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.