Escalating Doses of VAS-101 in Subjects With Stable Sickle Cell Disease

Recruiting now · Phase 1

Conditions studied: Sickle Cell Disease, Hemolytic Anemia

In brief

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder. The disease affects the ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen. Research has shown that curcumin, a natural compound found in turmeric, can improve the health of red blood cells in people with SCD. But the body cannot absorb curcumin well when it is taken by mouth. Researchers want to know if a skin gel (VAS-101) can help the body better absorb curcumin. VAS-101 contains curcumin, which comes from turmeric. Objective: To test VAS-101 in people with stable SCD. Eligibility: People aged 18 to 70 years with stable SCD. Design: People who want to join the study will be screened with physical exam with blood tests to see if they are eligible. If they qualify, they can enroll in the study. Participants will have up to 15 clinic visits over about 14 weeks. Some may need to stay overnight in the hospital for up to 2 days to make it easier to collect blood samples after the gel is applied. For 6 weeks, a special gel called VAS-101 will be put on the forearms in the clinic two times a week. Staff will rub the gel into the skin for at least 30 seconds using a soft toothbrush. The area stays uncovered for at least 10 minutes, then is covered with a bandage or sleeve. After 24 hours, the dressing can be removed and the skin can be washed. Some visits will include blood tests and other exams. On three visits, a test called near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) will be done. For this test, probes are placed on the skin to measure blood flow, oxygen levels, and the makeup of skin and muscle. A blood pressure cuff is used to squeeze the arm for up to 5 minutes. The last clinic visit will happen about 4 weeks after the final gel application....

Key facts

Study ID: NCT07566494
Run by: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
People needed: 25
Starts: 2026-07-31
Expected to finish: 2027-04-27
Last updated by the study team: 2026-08-05

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 90. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may not qualify if…

An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:
Vaso-occlusive crisis requiring parenteral treatment within 14 days of signing consent.
Three or more vaso-occlusive crises in the 12 months prior to screening that resulted in receiving treatment in an urgent care, outpatient infusion center/day-clinic, emergency department or inpatient setting.
Have a significant medical condition that confers an unacceptable risk to participating in the study, and/or that could confound the interpretation of the study data. Such significant medical conditions include, but are not limited to the following:
Poorly controlled hypertension (defined as systolic blood pressure [BP] >150 mmHg or diastolic BP >90 mmHg) refractory to medical management.
History of recent (within 24 weeks prior to signing consent) decompensated congestive heart failure; myocardial infarction or unstable angina pectoris; hemorrhagic, embolic, or thrombotic stroke; deep venous thrombosis; or pulmonary or arterial embolism.
Clinically symptomatic cholelithiasis or cholecystitis. Prior cholecystectomy is not exclusionary. Subjects with symptomatic cholelithiasis or cholecystitis may be rescreened once the disorder has been treated and clinical symptoms have resolved.
History of drug-induced cholestatic hepatitis.
Iron overload sufficiently severe to result in a clinical diagnosis by the Investigator of cardiac (e.g., clinically significant impaired left ventricular ejection fraction), hepatic (e.g., fibrosis, cirrhosis), or pancreatic (e.g., diabetes) dysfunction.
Positive test for hepatitis B surface antigen or hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody (Ab) with signs of active hepatitis B or C virus infection. If the subject is positive for HCVAb, a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction test will be conducted. Subjects with hepatitis C may be rescreened after receiving appropriate hepatitis C treatment.
Active infection requiring any use of systemic antimicrobial agents (parenteral or oral) or Grade >=3 in severity (per National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events) within 4 weeks prior to signing consent.
Diabetes mellitus judged to be under poor control by the Investigator or requiring >3 antidiabetic agents, including insulin (all insulins are considered 1 agent); use of insulin per se is not exclusionary.
History of any primary malignancy, with the exception of: curatively treated nonmelanomatous skin cancer; curatively treated cervical or breast carcinoma in situ; or other primary tumor treated with curative intent, no known active disease present, and no treatment administered during the last 3 years.
Current or recent history of psychiatric disorder that, in the opinion of the Investigator or Medical Monitor, could compromise the ability of the subject to cooperate with study visits and procedures.
Have had a prior bone marrow or stem cell transplant.
Are currently enrolled in another therapeutic clinical trial involving ongoing therapy with any investigational or marketed product or placebo.
Taking nitroglycerin, or any other nitrate-enhancing drug.
Have exposure to any investigational drug, device, or invasive procedure within 12 weeks prior to signing consent. All non-investigational invasive procedures within 12 weeks of signing consent may be considered as a potential exclusion criteria per the PI's discretion.
Currently pregnant or breastfeeding.
Currently receiving hematopoietic stimulating agents (e.g., erythropoietins, granulocyte colony stimulating factors, thrombopoietins) that have not been stopped for a duration of at least 90 days prior to signing consent.
Have a history of allergy to turmeric, curcuminoids, or formulations thereof.

Where it is running

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center — Bethesda, Maryland, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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