Sickle cell trial deaths in Kenya and Nigeria highlight treatment access gaps

Kenya and Nigeria were the only two countries where children died during a clinical trial of the sickle cell drug voxelotor, with eight deaths reported in the drug group versus two in the placebo group, according to newly published data. The drug was withdrawn globally in September 2024. Investigators stated the deaths were not directly caused by the drug, attributing them to known risks like malaria or sickle cell disease itself. The trial, conducted at 21 hospitals across eight countries from November 2020 to January 2023, tested 236 children and found the drug reduced stroke risk but also increased severe pain crises. Voxelotor was never commercially sold in Kenya, and the standard treatment remains the older drug hydroxyurea. Kenya has 250,000 sickle cell patients, with 14,000 infants born with the condition annually, and access to basic treatment remains inconsistent across the country.