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ICAGEN REPORTS RESULTS OF SICKLE CELL ANEMIA STUDY

October 21, 2005

Icagen has reported the results of an open-label extension study to its Phase II study of ICA-17043 for the treatment of sickle cell anemia. The trial was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled dose-range-finding study in 90 patients with sickle cell anemia conducted at 19 academic medical centers across the U.S. Following completion of the 12-week treatment period, and, for some patients, an eight-week washout period, patients were offered the opportunity to enroll in the open-label extension study, provided the study site had previously obtained institutional review board approval for such extension study. Of the 56 patients eligible to enroll in the open label extension study, 44 -- or 79 percent -- elected to do so.

The open-label extension study provided for a daily dose of 10 mg of ICA-17043 for a period of up to 48 weeks beyond completion of the Phase II study. All patients in the extension study received active study medication. In addition, some patients remained on concomitant hydroxyurea therapy, provided they had been on hydroxyurea therapy prior to entering the Phase II study. Unlike the Phase II trial, the extension study did not provide for an initial loading dose. The study was conducted primarily to evaluate further the long-term safety, and secondarily to evaluate descriptive evidence of efficacy, of this potential therapy.