September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month, bringing attention to the need for more research into the disease and possible cures. Here’s what you need to know before the month comes to an end.
What is sickle cell disease? It’s an inherited, lifelong disease in which the body makes “sickle-shaped” red blood cells that can block blood flow, causing pain, organ damage, infection, and other serious complications, as the My Three Sicklers Sickle Cell Foundation explains.
It disproportionately affects African Americans. The vast majority of sickle cell patients in the United States are Black or African American, with 1 in 13 born with the sickle cell trait, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
And COVID-19 has hit these patients particularly hard,STAT News reported: “Not only did the pandemic temporarily stop clinical trials and the introduction of new drugs, it made accessing care for sickle cell—which can be challenging even in ordinary times—far more difficult. Because sickle cell damages the spleen, people with the disease are considered immunocompromised and at high risk for serious complications from COVID-19.”
But there’s hope—thanks to biotechnology. Last November, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved BIO member Global Blood Therapeutics’ (GBT) Oxbryta, the first drug that attacks the underlying cause of sickle cell disease.
GBT credits their success to a majority-minority workforce—a reminder of why it’s so important for biotech company leaders and employees to be representative of the patients they serve.
But there’s still much work to be done to end racial disparities in health care and in the biotech industry. We’ve seen this play out right now, as African Americans are also disproportionately affected by COVID-19 primarily due to long-term disparities in access to health care and exposure to risk. This is why we launched the BIOEquality Agenda last month.
Learn more about sickle cell disease by listening to the sickle cell episode of the I AM BIO Podcast, which featured GBT CEO Dr. Ted Love and Mapillar Dahn, Founder of the My Three Sicklers Sickle Cell Foundation, who has three daughters born with the disease.
On November 12, Dr. Ted Love will give the keynote speech at the UC San Diego (UCSD) Bioengineering Breakfast with Industry. The 26th annual event will connect UCSD graduate students and members of the biotech industry virtually. Click here for details and registration.
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