Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Phase 1 Interventional Ages 18 to 65

Evaluating the safety of fostamatinib for sickle cell disease

Official title: A Phase I Study to Evaluate the Safety and Tolerability of Escalating Doses of Fostamatinib in Subjects With Stable Sickle Cell Disease

Run by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC) · NCT05904093 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing whether a new medication called fostamatinib is safe for adults with stable sickle cell disease and if it can help improve their blood cell function and reduce inflammation.

More Sickle Cell Disease trials

Quick facts

PhasePhase 1
Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 65 Years
SexAll
Enrollment35 (estimated)
SponsorNational Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
NIH
Drugs / interventionscrizanlizumab, fostamatinib
Locations1 site (Bethesda, Maryland)
StatusRecruiting
StartedDecember 18, 2024
Main results expectedMay 14, 2027
Study endsMay 14, 2027
Registry record updatedNovember 5, 2026
Trial IDNCT05904093 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates for this study are adults aged 18 to 65 with a confirmed diagnosis of stable sickle cell disease.

Probably not a fit

Patients who have had a blood transfusion within the last 60 days or those with severe organ dysfunction 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 study aims to assess the safety and tolerability of fostamatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in adults aged 18 to 65 with stable sickle cell disease (SCD). Participants will take fostamatinib orally twice daily for six weeks, with regular clinic visits to monitor for adverse events and evaluate the drug's effects on blood cell function and inflammation. The study will also explore the pharmacokinetics of the drug and its potential anti-sickling effects. Overall, the research seeks to provide better treatment options for individuals suffering from SCD.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved treatment options for patients with sickle cell disease, potentially reducing complications and enhancing quality of life.

How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using fostamatinib in sickle cell disease is novel, similar studies with tyrosine kinase inhibitors have shown promise in other conditions.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
* INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Subjects will enroll onto the study and undergo screening. Subjects who do not meet any of the following criteria during screening will not receive the study intervention but will be counted toward study accrual. Screen failures may be rescreened at a later time. In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:

1. Have provided signed written informed consent prior to performing any study procedure, including screening procedures.
2. Age between 18-65 years
3. Unequivocal diagnosis of SCA (HbSS or HbSBeta\^0) confirmed by hemoglobin electrophoresis performed on patients at least 60 days after a blood transfusion if previously transfused.
4. No transfusion in the 60 days prior to signing consent, or absence of Hb A on hemoglobin analysis (by high-performance liquid chromatography; HPLC)
5. Have adequate organ function, as defined by:

   1. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) \<=1.5 x Upper Limit of Normal (ULN) (unless the increased AST is assessed by the Investigator as due to hemolysis) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \<=1.5 x ULN.
   2. Absolute neutrophil count \>=1.5 x 10\^9/L.
   3. Hemoglobin \>= 7 g/dL
   4. Platelet count \>=100 x 10\^9/L.
6. If on hydroxyurea, participant must have been on stable dose of hydroxyurea (defined as a stable dose for at least 3 months and inclusive of dose modifications for hematological toxicity per PI discretion) prior to signing consent.
7. For women of reproductive potential, have a negative serum pregnancy test during the screening period. Women of reproductive potential are defined as sexually mature women who have not undergone a hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, or tubal occlusion; or who have not been naturally postmenopausal (i.e., who have not menstruated at all for at least the preceding 1 year prior to signing informed consent unrelated to hormonal contraception).
8. For women of reproductive potential as well as men and their partners who are women of reproductive potential, be abstinent as part of their usual lifestyle, or agree to use 2 effective forms of contraception from the time of giving informed consent, during the study, and for 28 days (both men and women) following the last dose of study treatment. An effective form of contraception is defined as hormonal oral contraceptives, injectables, patches, intrauterine or subdermal contraceptive implants, and barrier methods.
9. Be willing to comply with all study procedures for the duration of the study.
10. Must be able to provide consent

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

1. Pain crisis requiring parenteral treatment within 14 days of signing consent.
2. Have a significant medical condition that confers an unacceptable risk to participating in the study, and/or that could confound the interpretation of the study data. Such significant medical conditions include, but are not limited to the following:

   1. History of neutropenia (benign ethnic neutropenia and/or acquired neutropenia related to drug suppression by hydroxyurea and/or cyclic hematopoiesis are permitted).
   2. History of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES)
   3. History of poorly controlled hypertension (defined as systolic blood pressure \>=130 mmHg or average diastolic blood pressure \>=90 mmHg based on an average of 3 blood pressure readings despite adequate antihypertensive therapy) unless controlled for \>90 days prior to enrollment.
   4. Active viral infection as evidenced by testing positive for hepatitis B surface antigen or hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody (ab) with signs of active hepatitis B or C virus infection. If the subject is positive for HCV Ab, a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction test will be conducted. Subjects with hepatitis C may be rescreened after receiving appropriate hepatitis C treatment.
   5. History of drug-induced cholestatic hepatitis.
   6. History of any primary malignancy.
   7. Testing positive for human immunodeficiency virus 1 or 2 Ab with evidence for ongoing active infection (i.e., CD 4 count \<400/microliter and viral load \>100,000 copies/ml) on antiretroviral therapy.
   8. Current or recent history of psychiatric disorder that, in the opinion of the Investigator or Medical Monitor, could compromise the ability of the subject to cooperate with study visits and procedures.
   9. Are currently enrolled in another therapeutic clinical trial involving ongoing therapy with any investigational or marketed product or placebo.
   10. Use of newly approved SCD therapy (L-glutamine or crizanlizumab) is NOT permitted on this study. Subjects who have received newly approved SCD therapy in the 7 days prior to signing consent will be excluded.
   11. Having had a prior bone marrow or stem cell transplant.
   12. Currently pregnant or lactating.
   13. Currently receiving strong inhibitors of CYP3A4/5 that have not been stopped for \>=5 days or a time frame equivalent to 5 half-lives (whichever is longer), or strong inducers of CYP3A4 that have not been stopped for \>=28 days or a time frame equivalent to 5 half-lives (whichever is longer), prior to signing consent. SCD patients that are receiving treatment with CYP3A4 substrate drugs, some BCRP substrate drugs (eg. rosuvastatin), and some P-glycoprotein substrate drugs (eg. Digoxin) are excluded from the study.
   14. Currently receiving erythropoiesis stimulating agents.
3. Has received fostamatinib in 3 months prior to signing consent

Where it's running

  • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
    Bethesda, Maryland, United States
    Recruiting

Study contacts

  • Principal investigator: Swee Lay Thein, M.D. — National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
  • Study coordinator: Jordan B Branch
  • Email: jordan.branch@nih.gov
  • Phone: (301) 221-3820

Similar studies

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

  • Haploidentical stem cell transplantation for sickle cell disease

    This study is testing a new type of stem cell transplant for people with sickle cell disease to see if it can cure the disease while causing fewer complications.

    Recruiting at 4 sites Phase 2 University of Regensburg · Vienna and 8 other locations · NCT04201210

  • 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

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.