Crizanlizumab is a monoclonal antibody medication used to treat sickle cell disease. It is given by intravenous infusion every four weeks and works by blocking the interaction of P-selectin and its ligand on the surface of red blood cells, thus preventing them from sticking together and forming the painful clots that are a symptom of the disease. It has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in adults and children aged 16 and over.
Crizanlizumab, sold under the brand name Adakveo, is a medication used to reduce the frequency of vaso-occlusive crisis in people aged 16 years and older who have sickle cell disease. It is given by injection into a vein.
Crizanlizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody, a type of protein that is designed to target and block a specific molecule in the body. In the case of crizanlizumab, the target molecule is P-selectin, a cell adhesion molecule found on the surface of endothelial cells and platelets. P-selectin plays a role in the inflammatory response and the adhesion of cells to each other. By blocking P-selectin, crizanlizumab is thought to help prevent the sickling of red blood cells and the subsequent vaso-occlusive crisis.
Crizanlizumab was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November 2019 for the prevention of vaso-occlusive crisis in adults and children aged 16 years and older with sickle cell disease.