Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc. (GBT) announced updates across several of its development programs in sickle cell disease (SCD), on 22 of July. GBT introduced two global, randomized, placebo-controlled, pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials of inclacumab, a novel P-selectin inhibitor. Also enrolled the first SCD patient in a Phase 1 study evaluating GBT021601 (GBT601), a next-generation hemoglobin S (HbS) polymerization inhibitor, in people with SCD. Furthermore, the company has submitted a supplemental New Drug Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration seeking accelerated approval for Oxbryta® (voxelotor) for the treatment of SCD in children ages 4 to 11 years, together with a related separate New Drug Application (NDA) required to seek approval for a pediatric weight-based formulation of Oxbryta. President and CEO of GBT believes that the supplemental New Drug Application for Oxbryta creates a significant potential to impact the longer-term outcomes by addressing the root cause of red blood cell sickling at a young age. More info: Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc. press release.

Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AGIO), presented positive results from its Phase 2 proof-of-concept study of the oral pyruvate kinase (PK) activator "mitapivat" for non-transfusion-dependent thalassaemia (NTDT). This is the first clinical study of a PK activator in thalassaemia and the first drug trial in α-thalassaemia. The Phase 2 trial of mitapivat evaluated its efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in 20 adult patients with either α- or β-NTDT and ≤10 g/dL baseline haemoglobin (Hb) levels. A sustained increase in Hb levels ≥1.0 g/dL from baseline was reported in 80% of the treated patients, together with improvements in hemolysis and ineffective erythropoiesis, and mild adverse drug reactions similar to previous studies in healthy volunteers and patients with PK deficiency. Agios plans to initiate two Phase 3 studies of mitapivat, ENERGIZE and ENERGIZE-T, in not regularly transfused and regularly transfused adults with thalassaemia. More info: Agios press release

Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF) has published the 4th Edition 2021 Guidelines for the Management of Transfusion Dependent Thalassaemia (TDT) in collaboration with editors Cappellini MD., Farmakis D., Porter J., and Taher A.  The TIF Guidelines are adopted and used extensively by academics, researchers and healthcare professionals all over the world as the only evidence-based reference text concerning the treatment of patients with TDT. The newly launched edition includes brand new chapters on the recently approved modalities of patient treatment, the value of patient engagement at the decision-making level, the Reference Centres’ contribution to patient care, and much more. You can access the publication here.

Bluebird Bio is set to resume trials of LentiGlobin for sickle cell disease (SCD) and beta-thalassaemia after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has lifted the clinical holds on the Phase 1/2 HGB-206 and Phase 3 HGB-210 studies of LentiGlobin for SCD gene therapy (bb1111) for adult and pediatric patients with SCD, and the Phase 3 Northstar-2 (HGB-207) and Northstar-3 (HGB-212) studies of betibeglogene autotemcel gene therapy (beti-cel; licensed as ZYNTEGLO™ in the EU and the UK) for adult, adolescent and pediatric patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (TDT). The company is working closely with study investigators and clinical trial sites to resume all study activities as soon as possible. For more information, please see press release.