Hydroxyurea approved for treatment of Sickle Cell Anaemia

Hyderabad: Efforts by Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) to establish proper treatment and management protocols of Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA) has received a major boost with Indian drug regulatory authorities approving the marketing hydroxyurea for treatment of SCA. In coordination with several research organisations, CCMB had approached Drug Controller General of India […]

Hyderabad: Efforts by Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) to establish proper treatment and management protocols of Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA) has received a major boost with Indian drug regulatory authorities approving the marketing hydroxyurea for treatment of SCA.

In coordination with several research organisations, CCMB had approached Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for approval of hydroxyurea, an inexpensive anti-cancer agent, to treat SCA.

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On December 9, a committee of experts constituted by Central Drug Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) critically evaluated the proposal and approved marketing of hydroxyurea for treatment of SCA, subject to Post-marketing Surveillance, a press release from CCMB on Thursday said.

“This is a landmark achievement for Sickle Cell Anaemia community. This adds to the advantages of identifying the patients through a targeted screening program. While one of the major focuses of the screening program is to avoid birth of affected children through genetic and social counselling, this approval provides comprehensive treatment to the identified patients. The message now needs to reach clinicians across the country so that they can use hydroxyurea regularly for their patients”, Dr Giriraj R Chandak, Chief Scientist, at CCMB and Mission Director, leading the CSIR-SCA Mission, said.

Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA), a common genetic disorder among Indians affecting the red blood cells, is well known among tribal populations as well as even general populations in States like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.

Like most of the genetic disorders, SCA too has no cure but has symptomatic treatments for pain, anaemia and vaso-occlusive crisis, which means severe pain in back, legs, arms, chest and abdomen. In a non-formal way, the anti-cancer agent hydroxyurea is also used in SCA treatment without any approval.

CCMB coordinated the CSIR-Sickle Cell Anaemia (CSIR-SCA) Mission, which also included six CSIR labs and three government hospitals in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, and had approached regulatory authorities for approval.

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