Presenting their findings to the American Chemical Society, researchers are now developing a new drug that could address the root cause of sickle cell disease. In an initial trial on healthy adults, the drug was seen to increase foetal haemoglobin levels to around 25-30 per cent of all haemoglobin in the body. The researchers are now preparing phase 2 clinical trials of the drug, which they plan to carry out at the end of 2021. They also hope to use similar medications to treat thalassemia, a blood disorder that reduces haemoglobin production.
Source : BBC