Investigating Crizanlizumab for Sickle Cell Disease in Adolescents and Adults

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This phase III, multicenter, randomized, double-blind study evaluates the efficacy and safety of crizanlizumab (5 mg/kg) compared to a placebo in adolescents and adults with sickle cell disease who experience frequent vaso-occlusive crises. Participants aged 12 years and older will be randomly assigned to receive either crizanlizumab or placebo, with stratification based on concurrent hydroxyurea/hydroxycarbamide therapy and geographic region. The study aims to determine if crizanlizumab can reduce the frequency of vaso-occlusive crises in this patient population.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Key Inclusion Criteria:

1. Participants must be aged 12 years and older on the day of signing informed consent. Adolescents include participants aged 12 to \<18 years old and adults include participants aged 18 years and older.
2. Confirmed diagnosis of SCD by Hb electrophoresis or high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) (performed locally or by central laboratory if not available locally). All SCD genotypes are eligible.
3. Experienced 4 to 12 VOCs (refer to Section 8.3.1 for study definition of VOC) that are HCP-managed (including VOCs leading to management at a health care facility or those managed via remote consultation) within the 12 months prior to the screening visit. Baseline VOCs are determined by medical history and are required to be documented at source.
4. If the participant is on HU/HC, they must be taking it for at least 6 months and at stable dose for at least 3 months prior to the Screening visit and plan to continue taking it at the same dose and schedule until at least the participant has reached 52 weeks of the planned study treatment. Participants who have initiated HU/HC 6-12 months prior to the screening visit must have evidence of insufficient control of acute pain despite initiation. These participants must have a cumulative of 4-12 VOCs in the 12 months prior to the screening period, with at least 2 during the last 6 months while on HU/HC. If receiving erythropoietin stimulating agent, the participant must have been receiving the drug for at least 6 months prior to screening visit and plan to continue taking the drug at the same dose and schedule until the participant has reached 52 weeks of the planned study treatment.

Participants who have not been receiving HU/HC, and/or erythropoietin stimulating agent must not have received it for at least 6 months prior to screening visit.

Key Exclusion Criteria:

1. Fewer than 4 or more than 12 VOCs that are HCP-managed (including VOCs leading to management at a health care facility or those managed via remote consultation) within the 12 months prior to screening visit as determined by medical history and documented at source.
2. History of stem cell transplant and/or gene therapy.
3. Received blood products within 30 days prior to Week 1 Day 1 dosing.
4. Any documented history of a clinical stroke or intracranial hemorrhage, or an uninvestigated neurologic finding within the past 12 months before screening visit. Silent infarct only present on imaging is not excluded.
5. Participating in a chronic transfusion program (pre-planned series of transfusions for prophylactic purposes) and/or planning to undergo an exchange transfusion during the duration of the study; episodic transfusion in response to worsened anemia or VOC is permitted.
6. Contraindication or hypersensitivity to any drug or metabolites from similar class as study drug or to any excipients of the study drug formulation. History of severe hypersensitivity reaction to other monoclonal antibodies, which in the opinion of the investigator may pose an increased risk of serious infusion reaction.

Where it's running

• University Of Alabama
  Birmingham, Alabama, United States Recruiting
• Ctr for Inherited Blood Disorders
  Orange, California, United States Recruiting
• Childrens National Hospital
  Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States Recruiting
• University of Florida
  Jacksonville, Florida, United States Recruiting
• Augusta University Georgia
  Augusta, Georgia, United States Recruiting
• WCG Sonar Clinical Research
  Riverdale, Georgia, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Novartis Pharmaceuticals
• Email: novartis.email@novartis.com
• Phone: 1-888-669-6682

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

• Continuation of crizanlizumab treatment for sickle cell disease patients

  This study is for people with sickle cell disease who have already tried crizanlizumab and want to keep using it to see how well it works and if it's safe over a longer time.

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• Cerebrovascular Reactivity Testing with HD-DOT in Sickle Cell Patients

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• Adapting and testing PEN-Plus in Zambian primary care

  Aiming to see if the PEN-Plus package can be adapted and used in two Zambian hospitals to better manage chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and sickle cell in primary care.

  Recruiting Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia · Lusaka, Lusaka Province · NCT07753681

• Newborn Sickle Cell Screening in Mozambique

  We’re testing a three-part plan to help babies in Mozambique get diagnosed early for sickle cell disease and start care quickly.

  Recruiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital · Nhamatanda, Sofala · NCT07719972

• Optimizing Hydroxyurea in Children with Sickle Cell in Africa

  This study tests whether raising hydroxyurea to a maximum tolerated dose is safe and beneficial for Ugandan children with sickle cell anemia already taking a fixed daily dose.

  Recruiting Phase 1/2 Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati · Kampala · NCT07708714

• Hematopoietic stem cell editing to treat sickle cell disease

  This study tests whether a patient’s own blood stem cells can be edited to remove the sickle cell triggering gene and then returned to the patient.

  Recruiting Phase 1 Boston Children's Hospital · Boston, Massachusetts · NCT07708350

How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.