At-home glycan medicine to stop sickle cell pain crises

A novel glycan-based selectin and complement inhibitor for at-home disease-modifying rescue of pain crisis in sickle cell disease

NIH-funded research Ihp Therapeutics, INC. · NIH-11134763

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 typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionIhp Therapeutics, INC. NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (San Carlos, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11134763 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults with sickle cell disease who experience vaso-occlusive pain crises and can self-administer an at-home treatment would be the ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Children, people without sickle cell disease, and patients whose crises already require immediate hospital-level care may not benefit from an at-home therapy.

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 performed: 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

San Carlos, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Alzheimer disease dementiaAlzheimer syndrome
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.