A Study of Intravenous L-Citrulline in Patients Aged 6-21 Years Old With Sickle Cell Disease Presenting to Emergency Departments in Acute Vaso-Occlusive Crisis (NCT06989567)
A Phase III, Multi-Center, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Study of Intravenous L-Citrulline in Sickle Cell Disease Presenting to Emergency Departments in Acute Vaso-Occlusive Crisis in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults (6 to 21 Years)
🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)
This study is being done to learn more about a possible new treatment for pain episodes (called vaso-occlusive crises or VOCs) in children, teens, and young adults with sickle cell disease (SCD). The study will include about 120 participants between the ages of 6 and 21 who come to the emergency department (ED) with a VOC. A VOC is a painful episode that happens with no clear cause and no signs of infection or major problems with organs like the liver or kidneys. Before joining the study, patients and their families may be asked to learn about it and give permission (called consent or assent) while at a regular clinic visit. If that hasn't happened yet, the consent/assent process will happen at the emergency department when the patient comes in for care. If the patient meets all the study requirements, they can join the treatment part of the study. Participants will be randomly assigned (like flipping a coin) to receive either: L-citrulline, the study drug, or A placebo, which looks the same but has no active ingredients. Everyone has an equal chance of getting either one. The study drug is given through an IV. It starts with one larger dose, followed by a steady infusion for up to 12 hours. All patients in the study will still receive the usual pain treatment (called standard of care), which may include opioids. However, some patients may need fewer opioids if the study treatment helps with their pain. If any medicines are not allowed during the study, the doctor will explain this during the consent process. Patients can go home once: Their pain is controlled with oral (by mouth) pain medicine, They're eating and drinking well, and They've been given a personal pain management plan to use at home. After leaving the hospital, the study team will follow up with patients by phone about 2 days later (within a 12-hour window), again around Day 7, and again around Day 30 to check how they're doing.
Who can join: Review the eligibility criteria below.
Location: Children's National Hospital — Washington D.C., District of Columbia
Age range: 6 Years to 21 Years
🧪 Interventions in This Study
📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener
Instant ChecklistFull eligibility criteria are available on the official NIH protocol. View the criteria ↗
📍 All Participating Trial Locations (6 Sites)
- Children's National Hospital — Washington D.C., District of Columbia
- University of Miami — Coral Gables, Florida
- Emory University — Atlanta, Georgia
- Johns Hopkins Hospital — Baltimore, Maryland
- Children's Hospital of Michigan — Detroit, Michigan
- East Carolina (University of North Carolina) — Greenville, North Carolina
📞 Contact the Study Coordinator
Phone: (410) 736-3750
Email: gurdyal.kalsi@asklepionpharm.com
Coordinator details come directly from the registered NIH protocol. Confirm the study is still recruiting before traveling.
💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights
- 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
- Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
- Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.
More studies in Sickle Cell Disease
- Kidney Function in Sickle Cell Anemia — Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- BEACON: A Study Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of BEAM-101 in Patients With Severe Sickle Cell Disease — Birmingham, Alabama
- Nonmyeloablative Haploidentical Peripheral Blood Mobilized Hematopoietic Precursor Cell Transplantation for Sickle Cell Disease — Bethesda, Maryland
- Acupressure in Patients With Sickle Cell Disease — Irvine, California
- Long-term Follow-up (LTFU) of Patients Treated With Genome-edited Autologous Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells (HSPC) — Chicago, Illinois
- Evaluation of Safety and Efficacy of CTX001 in Pediatric Participants With Severe Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) — Charlotte, North Carolina
Explore by condition: All Sickle Cell Disease clinical trials
💡 How to Participate
- Check the checklist above to see if you may qualify.
- Contact the study coordinator using the phone/email above.
- Ask about the visit schedule, what is covered at no cost, and any travel support.
- Confirm with your own doctor before making a decision.