The First Crispr Medicine Is Now Approved in the US
WiredDEC 12 2023
Pharmaceutical company Pfizer announced Wednesday a global recall of its sickle cell anemia drug Oxbryta, citing an "imbalance" of deaths and health complications in patients.
Oxbryta, which is meant to help hemoglobin attract oxygen and prevent the damaging of red blood cells, was approved by US regulators in 2019 through a fast-tracked method based only on preliminary data.
Pfizer said that studies had found links to deaths and Vaso-occlusive crisis in patients, adding that it's also ending all clinical trials for the drug. One study of 236 patients resulted in eight deaths among those who took Oybryta, compared to two from the placebo group.
The data has shown too strong of a link between Oxbryta and patient death to keep this drug on the market. While drugs are supposed to make sickle cell patients better, this one has led to additional health issues, including arthritis, kidney failure, and stroke.