Sickle cell drug is withdrawn over safety concerns just months after rollout

The sickle cell treatment voxelotor (Oxbryta) has been withdrawn from all markets by the manufacturer Pfizer after a “higher than anticipated” number of deaths were reported and clinical evidence showed that the drug’s benefits no longer outweighed the risks.

In a recall notice issued on 30 September the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency told clinicians and patients that “emerging data” suggested an “unfavourable imbalance in vaso-occlusive crises (acute painful crises) and fatal events (deaths)” in patients treated with the drug.1

The agency shared a letter from Pfizer with UK healthcare professionals, which said that all patients currently having voxelotor prescribed must be contacted …