KYC: a new drug aiming to stop painful VOC in adults with sickle cell disease
Official title: KYC, an inhibitor of sickle cell disease's vicious cycle in vaso-occlusive crisis and pain
Funded at Reneurogen, LLC · NIH-11419557 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new drug called KYC could help adults with sickle cell disease who come to the ER with painful vaso-occlusive crises by reducing blood vessel blockage and pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Reneurogen, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Elm Grove, United States) |
| Project start | September 22, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $966,985 |
| NIH project number | 5R44HL178153-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11419557 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with sickle cell disease presenting to the emergency department with vaso-occlusive crisis and acute pain.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without VOC or not presenting to the ED may not benefit from this specific application.
What this research studies
This project develops KYC, a first-in-class drug designed to prevent blood vessel blockage and severe pain in adults with sickle cell disease. It builds on promising animal data showing KYC improves blood flow and reduces cell sickling and vessel constriction. The team plans to translate these findings toward people who visit emergency departments for VOC, aiming to shorten pain episodes and improve comfort. The study will explore how KYC works in the body and how well it can be used alongside existing emergency treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, KYC could become a new option to rapidly reduce VOC pain and emergency department visits for adults with sickle cell disease.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical data in sickle cell disease mouse models showed that KYC reduced vasocongestion and improved vasodilation, supporting progression to human testing.
Where this research is happening
-
Reneurogen, LLC
Elm Grove, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Naylor, Stephen — Reneurogen, LLC
- Study coordinator: Naylor, Stephen
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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.