Clinical trial Recruiting at 4 sites Phase 2 Interventional Ages 12 to 16

Evaluating Etavopivat for Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease Patients at Risk for Stroke

Official title: A Phase 2 Open-label Study to Evaluate the Activity of Etavopivat on Transcranial Doppler Velocities in Pediatric Patients With Sickle Cell Disease Who Are at Increased Risk for Primary Stroke

Run by Novo Nordisk A/S · NCT05953584 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing if a new medication called etavopivat can help prevent strokes in kids aged 12 to 16 with sickle cell disease who are at higher risk.

More Sickle Cell Disease trials

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Ages12 Years to 16 Years
SexAll
Enrollment27 (estimated)
SponsorNovo Nordisk A/S
Industry-sponsored
Locations9 sites (Raipur, Chhattisgarh and 8 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedJune 20, 2023
Main results expectedAugust 20, 2027
Study endsJune 28, 2028
Registry record updatedSeptember 10, 2026
Trial IDNCT05953584 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are pediatric patients aged 12 to 16 with a confirmed diagnosis of sickle cell disease and specific TCD results indicating increased stroke risk.

Probably not a fit

Patients with a history of primary ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke or severe CNS vasculopathy may not benefit from this study.

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

What this trial studies

This clinical trial aims to assess the safety and efficacy of etavopivat in pediatric patients aged 12 to 16 years with sickle cell disease who are at increased risk for stroke. Participants will be divided into two cohorts based on their transcranial doppler (TCD) ultrasound results and their use of hydroxyurea. The treatment will last for 52 weeks, during which participants will take 400 mg of etavopivat daily. The study will monitor changes in TCD velocities to evaluate the drug's effectiveness in reducing stroke risk.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly reduce the risk of stroke in children with sickle cell disease.

How similar studies have gone: Other studies have explored treatments for sickle cell disease, but the specific use of etavopivat in this context is novel.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patient's parent, legal guardian, or legal representative has provided documented informed consent and patients have provided age-appropriate assent

   Age:
2. 12 to 16 years of age (inclusive) at time of screening

   Type of Participant and Disease Characteristics:
3. Confirmed diagnosis of SCD

   • Documentation of any SCD genotype (e.g. HbSS, HbSβ0 -thalassemia) based on prior history of laboratory testing. Molecular genotyping is not required. SCD genotype may be determined from the results of Hb electrophoresis, high-performance liquid chromatography, or similar testing.
4. TAMMV greater than or equal to (≥) 170 cm/s in the ICA and/or MCA during the Screening Period and confirmed on 2 occasions and without history of primary ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, transient ischemic attack, or severe central nervous system (CNS) vasculopathy on magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). This includes patients with cTCD (170-199 centimeter per second \[cm/s\]) or aTCD (≥ 200 cm/s). Patients with aTCD cohort must have refused transfusion therapy.
5. Hb ≥ 6 grams per deciliter (g/dL) and lesser than or equal to (≤) 9 g/dL at screening
6. For participants with aTCD and cTCD and already taking HU, the dose of HU milligram per kilogram (mg/kg) must be stable (no more than a 20% change in dosing except for weight-based changes) for at least 90 days prior to start of study treatment with no anticipated need for dose adjustments except for weight-based changes during the study, in the opinion of the Investigator.

   Sex and Contraceptive Requirements
7. Patients, who if female and of childbearing potential, are using acceptable methods of contraception and agree not to donate ova from study start to 90 days after the last dose of study drug, and who if male, are willing to use acceptable methods of contraception and agree not to donate sperm, from study start to 90 days after the last dose of study drug

Exclusion Criteria:

Medical Conditions

1. Female who is breast feeding or pregnant
2. History of seizure disorder
3. Prior overt stroke (a focal neurological deficit of acute onset) by history or significant concerns for history of overt stroke based on Screening MRL, history of transient ischemic attack, focal neurological deficit on standardized neurological examination, or concern for moderate or severe neurological deficit (which could be due to stroke) based on a positive "10 questions" screening. Patients with significant or suggestive severe CNS vasculopathy (ie, moya moya) of Grade 4 or higher based on MRA read locally.
4. Significant cytopenias (absolute neutrophil count \[ANC\] \< 1.5 × 10\^3/microliter (µL), platelets \< 150,000/µL, reticulocytes \< 80,000/µL)
5. Severe renal dysfunction (estimated glomerular filtration rate at the Screening visit; calculated by the local laboratory \< 30 mL/min/1.73 m\^2) or on chronic dialysis
6. Hepatic dysfunction characterized by alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \> 4 × upper limit of normal (ULN) and/or direct bilirubin \> 3 × ULN
7. Patients with clinically significant bacterial, fungal, parasitic, or viral infection requiring systemic therapy or history of such infections leading to significant neurological impairment:

   * Patients with acute bacterial, fungal, parasitic, or viral infection requiring systemic therapy should delay screening/enrollment until active therapy has been completed.
   * Patients with acute viral infections (eg, coronavirus disease 2019 \[COVID-19\]) should delay screening/enrollment until the acute infection has resolved.
   * Patients enrolled in areas where malaria is prevalent must be on malaria prophylaxis based on regional guidance and resistance results. Note: Infection prophylaxis is allowed (see concomitant medication restrictions).
8. Known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positivity
9. Known infection with hepatitis B virus (hepatitis B surface antigen \[HepBsAg\] and hepatitis B core antibody \[HepBcAb\] positive.

Where it's running

  • University College Hospital (UCH)
    Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
    Recruiting
  • Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos
    Lagos, Nigeria
    Recruiting
  • Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH)
    Tarauni, Nigeria
    Recruiting
  • Sultan Qaboos University Hospital
    Muscat, Sultanet of Oman/Muscat/Al Khoud, Oman
    Recruiting
  • All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Raipur
    Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India
    Completed
  • All India Institute of Medical Sciences-Delhi
    Delhi, India
    Completed
Show 3 more locations
  • Nirmal Hospital Pvt. Ltd.
    Gujarat, India
    Completed
  • Suretech Hospital and Research Centre Ltd.
    Maharashtra, India
    Completed
  • Indira Gandhi Government Medical College & Hospital
    Nagpur, India
    Not yet recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

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

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

    This study tests whether high-density diffuse optical tomography can measure brain blood flow and oxygen use in people with sickle cell disease, to see how these signals relate to stroke risk.

    Recruiting Washington University School of Medicine · St Louis, Missouri · NCT07776444

  • 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

  • Virtual reality options to help with VOC pain in adults with SCD

    This study tests whether headset-based virtual reality can help reduce pain for adults with sickle cell disease during vaso-occlusive crises treated in an infusion center.

    Recruiting University of Maryland, Baltimore · Baltimore, Maryland · NCT07674277

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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.