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Recruiting Phase 1 NCT06506461

NCT06506461 Gene Editing For Sickle Cell Disease

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Clinical Trial Summary
NCT ID NCT06506461
Status Recruiting
Phase Phase 1
Sponsor St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Condition Sickle Cell Disease
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment 25 participants
Start Date 2025-03-21
Primary Completion 2029-12

Eligibility & Interventions

Sex All sexes
Min Age 18 Years
Max Age 24 Years
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Interventions
PlerixaforBusulfanGene-modified CD34+ cells

Eligibility Fast-Check

Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.

What to Expect as a Participant

You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.

Phase 1 is the earliest stage of human testing — safety and dosage are the primary focus. Visits are frequent and medical supervision is intensive. You will be among the first people to receive this treatment.

This trial targets 25 participants in total. It began in 2025-03-21 with a primary completion date of 2029-12.

⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.

Brief Summary

This study is being done to test the safety of a new treatment called gene editing in Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) patients and to see if a single dose of this genetically modified cellular product will increase the amount of a certain hemoglobin called fetal hemoglobin (HbF) and help reduce the symptoms of SCD. Primary Objective * To assess the safety of autologous infusion of clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/ CRISPR associated protein (Cas9)-edited CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) in patients with severe SCD. Secondary Objective * To assess the efficacy autologous infusion of CRISPR/Cas9 genome-edited CD34+ HSPCs into patients with severe SCD.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥18 years and ≤24.9 years. * Patients with SCD (Hb SS, Hb SB0 and Hb SB+ genotype) who have experienced EITHER (a) 2 or more SCD-related vaso-occlusive events (acute pain events, acute chest syndrome, priapism and splenic sequestration) per year in the 2-year period before screening, OR (b) administration of regular red blood cell (RBC) transfusions (≥8 transfusions in the 12 months preceding enrollment) EXCEPT if the RBC transfusions are being administered for primary or secondary stroke prevention and, in the opinion of the treating hematologist, cannot be safely discontinued after infusion of the gene modified drug product. * Failure, intolerance, or refusal of hydroxyurea therapy. * Patients must be eligible for autologous stem cell transplant as per investigator's judgment. * Females of childbearing potential (i.e., those who are post-menarchal with an intact uterus and at least 1 ovary, and those who are less than 1 year postmenopausal) must agree to use acceptable method(s) of contraception from start of mobilization through at least 6 months post-infusion. * Males must agree to use effective contraception from start of mobilization through at least 6 months post-infusion. * Patients should be willing to participate in an additional long-term follow-up study after completion of this trial. Exclusion Criteria: * Availability of an human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched sibling who is willing and able to donate an appropriate graft for hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). * Karnofsky or Lansky performance score \< 80. * Pregnant, as confirmed by positive serum or urine pregnancy test within 14 days before enrollment (if female). * Breastfeeding. * Uncontrolled (undergoing appropriate treatment and with progression of clinical symptoms) or clinically significant bacterial, viral, or fungal infections within 1 month before enrollment. * Patients with confirmed Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C infections. * Patients with confirmed seropositivity or positive nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV). * Patients with a history of stroke. * Serum conjugated (direct) bilirubin \> 2× the upper limit of normal for age, or serum alanine transaminase (ALT) \> 3× the upper limit of normal for age as per the local laboratory. Participants with hyperbilirubinemia or elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) as the result of hyperhemolysis, or with a severe drop in hemoglobin post blood transfusion, are not excluded as long as these values downtrend and return to acceptable limits subsequently. * Left ventricular shortening fraction \< 25% or ejection fraction \< 45% by echocardiogram. * Estimated creatinine clearance less than 60 mL/min/1.73m\^2. * Diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO) \< 50% (adjusted for hemoglobin) OR baseline oxygen saturation \< 85% in patients unable to perform pulmonary function tests. * Prior HCT or gene therapy. * Known hepatic cirrhosis, bridging hepatic fibrosis, or active hepatitis. Appropriate ultrasound or magnetic resonance (MR) imaging may be used to define the presence and degree of cirrhosis. Liver biopsy may be performed at the discretion of the attending physician or principal investigator if there are concerns regarding the presence of severe hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis such that participation in this trial will not be in the patient's best interest. * Active known malignancy, myelodysplasia, abnormal cytogenetics, or immunodeficiency. * Patients with history of a significant bleeding disorder. * Cerebrovascular procedure within 6 months, including pial synangiosis for moyamoya. * Patients with history of untreated moyamoya disease or presence of moyamoya disease at screening that in the opinion of the investigator puts the subjects at the risk of bleeding. * Evidence of a pathogenic clonal variant in any candidate gene detected by a standard, licensed next-generation sequencing clinical assay for gene mutations associated hematological malignancies. * Patients with history of intolerance, contraindication, or known sensitivity to plerixafor or motixafortide or busulfan. Prior anaphylactic reaction with excipients of the proposed product. * Patients with participation in another clinical study with an investigational drug/product within 30 days of screening or fewer than 5 half-lives of the investigational agent whichever is longer from screening. * Patients with history of alloimmunization to RBC antigens and for whom the investigator anticipates that there will be insufficient RBC units available for the duration of the study.

Contact & Investigator

Central Contact

Akshay Sharma, MBBS, MSc

✉ referralinfo@stjude.org

📞 888-226-4343

Principal Investigator

Akshay Sharma, MBBS, MSc

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join the NCT06506461 clinical trial?

This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, up to 24 Years, studying Sickle Cell Disease. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.

What phase is the NCT06506461 trial and what does that mean for participants?

Phase 1 trials are the first stage of human testing. The primary goal is to assess safety and determine appropriate dosage levels. Participants are closely monitored. These trials typically involve a small number of volunteers.

Is NCT06506461 currently recruiting?

Yes, NCT06506461 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at referralinfo@stjude.org for enrollment information.

Where is the NCT06506461 trial being conducted?

This trial is being conducted at Memphis, United States.

Who is sponsoring the NCT06506461 clinical trial?

NCT06506461 is sponsored by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The principal investigator is Akshay Sharma, MBBS, MSc at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The trial plans to enroll 25 participants.

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ClinicalMetric — Independent clinical trial intelligence platform. Not affiliated with NIH, ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. FDA, or any pharmaceutical company, hospital, or clinical research organization. Trial data is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Do not make any treatment, enrollment, or health decisions based solely on information found here — always consult a qualified healthcare professional. Full Disclaimer  ·  Last Reviewed: July 2026  ·  Data Methodology