journal Journal For International Medical Graduates Journal For International Medical Graduates California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences and Psychology US https://www.cibnp.com 2832-9864 214 Articles Advancements in Sickle Cell Disease Treatment: A Review of Crizanlizumab Bushra Firdous Shaik Shaik Bushra Firdous bushra.leos@gmail.com Excel Ernest-Okonofua Ernest-Okonofua Excel dr.excelernest@gmail.com Omar Ahmed Mohammed Sami Mahroq Sami Mahroq Omar Ahmed Mohammed dromarmahroq@gmail.com Shakirat Oyindolapo Ganiyu Ganiyu Shakirat Oyindolapo shakirat.ganiyu@utrgv.edu Ritesh Nimmagadda Nimmagadda Ritesh rithishnvs@gmail.com Vemparala Priyatha Priyatha Vemparala priyathabhaskar@gmail.com Marcellina Nwosu Nwosu Marcellina marcellina.nwosu@jimgs.com Internal Medicine Faculty, Piedmont Macon Hospital, Georgia, USA California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences and Psychology, Fairfield, California, USA Internal Medicine, One Brooklyn Health-Interfaith Medical Center, New York, USA 05 01 2026 Received: 512026 Copyright (c) 2026 Journal For International Medical Graduates 2026 Journal For International Medical Graduates Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) Crizanlizumab Vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs) P-selectin Endothelial adhesion Targeted therapy Monoclonal antibody Clinical trials Safety profile Voxelotor L-glutamine Novel therapeutics Disease management Quality of life Kavanagh PL, Fasipe TA, Wun T. Sickle cell disease: a review. JAMA. 2022;328(1):57-68. 2. GBD 2021 Sickle Cell Disease Collaborators. Global, regional, and national prevalence and mortality burden of sickle cell disease, 2000–2021: a systematic analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet Haematol. 2023;10(8):e585-e599. Mayo-Gamble TL, Schlundt D, Cunningham-Erves J, et al. Sickle cell carriers’ unmet information needs: beyond knowing trait status. J Genet Couns. 2019;28(4):812-821. Elendu C, Amaechi DC, Alakwe-Ojimba CE, et al. Understanding sickle cell disease: causes, symptoms, and treatment options. Medicine (Baltimore). 2023;102:e35237. Jang T, Poplawska M, Cimpeanu E, Mo G, Dutta D, Lim SH. Vaso-occlusive crisis in sickle cell disease: a vicious cycle of secondary events. J Transl Med. 2021;19:397. Zadeh FJ, Fateh A, Saffari H, et al. The vaso-occlusive pain crisis in sickle cell patients: a focus on pathogenesis. Curr Res Transl Med. 2025;73:103512. López Rubio M, Argüello Marina M. The current role of hydroxyurea in the treatment of sickle cell anemia. J Clin Med. 2024;13. Gardner RV. Crizanlizumab in vaso-occlusive crisis caused by sickle cell disease. Drugs Today (Barc). 2020;56(11):705-714. DeBonnett L, Joshi V, Silva-Pinto AC, et al. Real-world evidence of crizanlizumab showing reductions in vaso-occlusive crises and opioid usage in sickle cell disease. Eur J Haematol. 2025;114:293-302. Sundd P, Gladwin MT, Novelli EM. Pathophysiology of sickle cell disease. Annu Rev Pathol. 2019;14:263-292. Kaur K, Kennedy K, Liles D. Crizanlizumab in sickle cell disease. Pain Manag. 2023;13(—):—. (No page numbers available in your document.) Karki NR, Kutlar A. P-selectin blockade in the treatment of painful vaso-occlusive crises in sickle cell disease: a spotlight on crizanlizumab. J Pain Res. 2021;14:849-856. Ataga KI, Kutlar A, Kanter J, et al. Crizanlizumab for the prevention of pain crises in sickle cell disease. N Engl J Med. 2017;376:429-439. Yassin M, Minniti C, Shah N, et al. Evidence and gaps in clinical outcomes of novel pharmacologic therapies for sickle cell disease: a systematic literature review. Blood Rev. 2025;73:101298. Kanter J, Mennito S, Nair SM, et al. Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, safety, and efficacy of crizanlizumab in patients with sickle cell disease: final results from the phase II SOLACE-Adults study. Ther Adv Hematol. 2024;15:20406207241292508. Heeney M, Rees D, de Montalembert M, et al. Safety and efficacy of crizanlizumab in adolescents with sickle cell disease: initial data from the phase II, multicenter, open-label SOLACE-Kids trial. Hemasphere. 2022;6(suppl):12. Karkoska K, Jacob SA, McGann PT. Accelerated drug approvals and patient trust: impact of voxelotor and crizanlizumab for sickle cell disease. Blood Adv. 2025;9:2857-2862. Abboud MR, Cançado RD, De Montalembert M, et al. Crizanlizumab with or without hydroxyurea in patients with sickle cell disease (STAND): primary analyses from a placebo-controlled, randomised, double-blind, phase 3 trial. Lancet Haematol. 2025;12:e248-e257. Niihara Y, Miller ST, Kanter J, et al. A phase 3 trial of L-glutamine in sickle cell disease. N Engl J Med. 2018;379:226-235. Kutlar A, Joshi V, Brueckner A, et al. Safety profile of crizanlizumab 5.0 mg/kg in sickle cell disease: pooled data from clinical trials. Blood. 2023;142:1139.