Trial of a promising Sickle Cell treatment
Deep Life have run a successful Phase 1 trial of a sickle cell treatment. Patients in the Phase 1 trial report it provided immediate relief of acute symptoms, and prevented sickling episodes from progressing. No side effects were reported. Medical professionals involved in the trial report that the treatment is the most effective and promising they have ever come across.
The treatment is a drug extracted from a single African plant combined with a buffer: it is not an opioid or analgesic but is thought to relieve the symptoms by acting as a selective vasodilator and increases production of HgF for long term protection.
As part of the trial planning, a small number of patients were traced who had used this extract in the form of a traditional remedy over a 15 period, and were clinically examined: none had any disability, none had experienced acute episodes since starting taking the treatment but each reported that they had many severe episodes previously. All of the long term patients who were traced retained a functional spleen (oldest patient 38 years old), though with splenomegaly. All were leading a normal life.
In preparation for Phase 2 trials planned for 2021, a million cuttings have been taken from the plants used in the Phase One trial, and these are being grown on a farm in Africa acquired for this purpose. The UK's Kew Gardens indicate the plant has not been previously listed, i.e. is not known to science though it is known by a vernacular name locally. The plants will provide a source of the extract used for the treatment for the Phase 2 trial and form the genetic material seed stock for production of any resulting drug in line with GMP guidelines.
In parallel with this a second Phase 1 trial is planned to look at the plant for the treatment of rheumatism.
Deep Life Medical has other clinical trials ongoing. These will be reported when complete and analysed in line with PRISMA guidelines.