Mitapivat for reducing transfusion needs in sickle cell disease
Official title: A Phase 3, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Study to Evaluate the Effect of Mitapivat on Transfusion Burden in Subjects With Sickle Cell Disease
Run by Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. · NCT07656415 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests whether mitapivat, compared with placebo, can lower the number of blood transfusions needed by people with sickle cell disease.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 3 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 12 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 159 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Industry-sponsored |
| Drugs / interventions | crizanlizumab |
| Locations | 5 sites (Indianapolis, Indiana and 4 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | July 21, 2026 |
| Main results expected | August 2029 |
| Study ends | August 2030 |
| Registry record updated | October 28, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07656415 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are individuals aged 12 or older with sickle cell disease who have had at least one transfusion in the prior year and meet the specified hemoglobin and laboratory criteria.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients not meeting the transfusion-history or laboratory criteria, or those with incompatible treatments, may not benefit from the intervention.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
In this Phase 3 trial, participants with sickle cell disease who have had recent transfusions will receive either mitapivat or a matched placebo to see if transfusion burden can be reduced. The study includes adults and adolescents 12 years and older and requires specific blood measurements and lab criteria during screening. If eligible, participants will be randomized to receive mitapivat or placebo and will continue standard care with monitoring for safety and efficacy. The trial is sponsored by Agios Pharmaceuticals and is being conducted at multiple sites in Indiana, Michigan, and Mississippi.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants may experience fewer required transfusions and related complications.
How similar studies have gone: Prior similar approaches have shown potential in reducing transfusion needs in some sickle cell patients, but this specific mitapivat strategy is being evaluated in a larger, controlled Phase 3 trial.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥12 years. * Documented diagnosis of SCD (hemoglobin SS (HbSS), combined heterozygosity for hemoglobins S and C (HbSC), sickle cell hemoglobin (HbS)/β0-thalassemia, HbS/β+-thalassemia, or other sickle cell syndrome variants). * No more than 10 SCPCs in the 12 months before providing informed assent/consent. * At least 1 transfusion of packed RBCs in the 12 months before informed assent/consent. * Hb ≥5.5 and ≤10.5 g/dL. Hb concentration must be based on an average of at least 2 Hb concentration measurements (separated by ≥7 days) collected during the Screening Period. * Additional signs or symptoms of hemolysis, as evidenced by any laboratory assessment during the Screening Period with * Hb \<8 g/dL, or * Absolute reticulocyte count \> upper limit of normal (ULN), or * Indirect bilirubin \>ULN, or * LDH \>ULN * If taking hydroxyurea, the hydroxyurea dose must be stable for at least 90 days prior to randomization. Discontinuation of hydroxyurea requires a 90-day washout prior to informed assent/consent. * Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) and pediatric female subjects who have attained menarche must be abstinent of sexual activities that may induce pregnancy as part of their usual lifestyle or agree to use a highly effective method of contraception from the time of providing informed assent/consent, throughout the study, and for 28 days after the last dose of study drug; if the highly effective method of contraception is hormonal contraception, then an acceptable barrier method must also be used. * Written informed assent/consent (for subjects under 18 years of age, or prior to the age at which a subject is considered legally an adult per local regulations, parental permission and child assent will be obtained) must be obtained before any study-related procedures are conducted and subjects must be willing to comply with all study procedures for the duration of the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant, breastfeeding, or parturient. * Receiving regularly scheduled RBC transfusion therapy (also termed chronic, prophylactic, or preventative transfusion); episodic transfusion in response to worsened anemia or vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) is permitted. Additionally, a subject who requires episodic transfusion(s) may not have received a transfusion(s) within 60 days before providing informed assent/consent or during the Screening Period. * Hospitalized for an SCPC and/or other vaso-occlusive event within 14 days prior to providing informed assent/consent or during the Screening Period. A hospitalization is defined as an in-patient admission to a hospital that may or may not be preceded by an emergency room or outpatient clinic visit. A visit to an emergency room that does not result in an in-patient admission does not meet the definition of hospitalization. * Currently receiving treatment with a disease-modifying therapy for SCD (eg, voxelotor, crizanlizumab, L-glutamine), with the exception of hydroxyurea. The last dose of voxelotor, crizanlizumab, and L-glutamine must have been administered at least 90 days before randomization. * History of any malignancy except for nonmelanomatous skin cancer in situ, cervical carcinoma in situ, or breast carcinoma in situ. Subjects must not have active disease or received anticancer treatment ≤5 years before providing informed assent/consent. * History of active and uncontrolled cardiac or pulmonary disease within 6 months before randomization, including but not limited to: * New York Heart Association Class III or IV heart failure or clinically significant dysrhythmia. * Myocardial infarction or unstable angina pectoris; hemorrhagic, embolic, or thrombotic stroke; deep venous thrombosis; or pulmonary or arterial embolism. * Heart rate-corrected QT interval using Fridericia's method of ≥470 milliseconds for female subjects and ≥450 milliseconds for male subjects, except for right or left bundle branch block. * Severe pulmonary fibrosis as defined by severe hypoxia, evidence of right-sided heart failure, and radiographic pulmonary fibrosis \>50%. * Severe pulmonary hypertension as defined by severe symptoms associated with hypoxia, right heart failure, and oxygen indicated. * Hepatobiliary disorders including but not limited to: * Liver disease with histopathological evidence or clinical diagnosis of cirrhosis or severe fibrosis. * Clinically symptomatic cholelithiasis or cholecystitis (subjects with prior cholecystectomy are eligible). * History of drug-induced cholestatic hepatitis. * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) \>2.5× ULN (unless due to hemolysis and/or hepatic iron deposition) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \>2.5× ULN (unless due to hepatic iron deposition). * Renal dysfunction as defined by an estimated glomerular filtration rate \<30 milliliters per minute (mL/min)/1.73-meter square (m\^2) by the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration creatinine equation. * Active uncontrolled infection requiring systemic antimicrobial therapy. * Positive test for hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody (Ab) with evidence of active HCV infection, or positive test for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). * Positive test for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 antibody or HIV-2 antibody. * History of major surgery (including splenectomy) ≤16 weeks before providing informed assent/consent and/or planning on undergoing a major surgical procedure during the study. * Current enrollment or past participation (within 90 days before randomization or a time frame equivalent to 5 half-lives of the investigational study drug, whichever is longer) in any other clinical study involving an investigational study drug or device. * Past enrollment in a clinical study involving mitapivat. * Prior exposure to gene therapy or prior bone marrow or stem cell transplantation. * Currently receiving treatment with hematopoietic stimulating agents; the last dose must have been administered at least 90 days before randomization. * Receiving products that are strong inhibitors of Cytochrome3A4/5 (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 Cytochrome3A4 (CYP3A4) that have not been stopped for ≥28 days or a time frame equivalent to 5 half-lives (whichever is longer), prior to randomization. * Receiving anabolic steroids that have not been stopped for at least 4 weeks before randomization. Testosterone replacement therapy to treat hypogonadism is allowed; the testosterone dose and preparation must be stable for ≥10 weeks before randomization. * Known allergy to mitapivat or tablet excipients (microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, sodium stearyl fumarate, mannitol, magnesium stearate, and the Opadry Blue II film-coat \[hypromellose, titanium dioxide, lactose monohydrate, triacetin, and FD\&C Blue #2\]). * Any medical, hematological, psychological, or behavioral condition(s), including alcohol use disorder, or prior or current therapy that, in the opinion of the Investigator, may confer an unacceptable risk to participating in the study and/or could confound the interpretation of the study data. Also excluded are: * Subjects unable to receive RBC transfusions (eg, due to presence of allo-antibodies, lack of blood availability). * Subjects deprived of liberty by court or administrative decision (eg, persons accommodated in an institution by order of an authority or court). * Subjects undergoing psychiatric care without their consent. * Subjects admitted to a health or social establishment for purposes other than research. * Adult Subjects subject to a legal protection measure (guardian, curatorship, legal protection). * Subjects unable to express their consent. * Receiving herbal or dietary supplements that have not been stable in dose and preparation for ≥8 weeks prior to randomization.
Where it's running
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Indiana Hemophilia & Thrombosis Center
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States Recruiting -
The Cancer and Hematology Centers (CHC)
Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States Recruiting -
Southern Specialty Clinic
Flowood, Mississippi, United States Recruiting -
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, New York, United States Recruiting -
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Houston, Texas, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Agios Medical Affairs
- Email: medinfo@agios.com
- Phone: 08332288474
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.