Biotin-RBC Transfusion in SCD

April 29, 2026 updated by: Marianne Yee

Kinetics of Red Blood Cell Clearance in Chronically Transfused Children With Sickle Cell Disease

This is a single-arm, mechanistic clinical trial to measure predictors of senescence and the in vivo survival of transfused red blood cells (RBCs) in individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) receiving chronic transfusion therapy (CTT). Chronic transfusion in patients with SCD is a common treatment. The efficacy of RBC transfusion therapy to treat or prevent complications of SCD may be hampered by variable survival of the transfused donor RBC. The overall aim is to see how long RBC survive in SCD patients who are chronically transfused. When a study participant has a regular blood transfusion the researchers will label a small portion of the RBCs that are transfused with biotin. The participant will return at Day 1, weekly for 3 months and monthly for 3 months to measure how long those RBCs survive. An optional sub-study using INTERCEPT RBCs will mirror the main study but will use INTERCEPT RBCs that have biotinylated for 1 RBC unit.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Sickle cell disease (SCD) carries significant morbidity as a result of red blood cell (RBC) sickling and hemolysis. Stroke is one of the most devastating sequelae of SCD. Chronic transfusion therapy (CTT) reduces stroke risk by supplying normal, non-sickle RBC to circulation, thereby reducing the percentage of endogenous sickle RBC in circulation, and maintaining a higher hemoglobin (Hb), thereby suppressing erythropoiesis of new sickle RBC. While the efficacy of CTT in stroke prophylaxis is well-established, nearly 45% of children continue to have silent or overt strokes despite CTT. The failure of CTT to prevent stroke events may be related to inadequate reduction of circulating sickle RBC and erythropoiesis. The amount of circulating sickle-RBC is related to the survival kinetics of both transfused RBC and endogenous sickle RBC.

In a large, longitudinal analysis of CTT in SCD, the researchers found wide variation in the survival of donor RBC following transfusion, with faster clearance associated with patient immune features (historical RBC alloimmunization and spleen presence) and with donor RBC glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. To better understand the roles of patient and donor factors in the survival and clearance of transfused RBC, the researchers propose a mechanistic, clinical trial during chronic transfusion episodes in patients with SCD, in which a small aliquot of each transfused unit is labeled with biotin conjugated to RBC surface proteins, to safely identify and measure the in vivo survival of donor RBC.

Aim 1 will examine the relationships of the recipient's immune system (past alloimmunization, splenic volume, and markers of reticuloendothelial system function) on the post-transfusion survival of biotin-labeled donor RBC.

Aim 2 will examine the relationships of donor RBC G6PD levels and donor RBC metabolomics with the in vivo survival and changes in donor RBC senescence markers.

Aim 3 will compare the in vivo survival and clearance rate of phenotype-matched RBCs prepared with an investigational pathogen-reduction system (INTERCEPT Blood System) vs. the in vivo survival and clearance rate of conventional, phenotype-matched RBCs (not treated with INTERCEPT). Biotin labeling of donor RBC will be used to measure RBC survival. This is an optional study activity for study participants.

Completion of these aims will increase the understanding of mechanisms for the variability in RBC survival during CTT, identifying donor and recipient risk factors for decreased RBC survival. Ultimately this knowledge will inform the management of CTT to improve the prevention of strokes in SCD.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
22

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Georgia
      • Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30303
        • Hughes Spalding Children's Hospital
      • Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30322
        • Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta
      • Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30322
        • Grady Health System

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

6 years and older (Child, Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Hemoglobinopathy:

    • Any sickle cell disease genotype, or
    • Transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT)
  • Receiving CTT for ≥3 months prior to enrollment
  • For participants with past BioRBC transfusion exposure, BioRBC antibody screens must have been conducted through at least 6 months post exposure, with negative results

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Anticipated cessation of CTT in the next ≤2 months
  • Ongoing consumption of biotin or raw egg dietary supplements
  • Antibody specific of INTERCEPT RBCs at baseline (for subjects consenting to the optional arm)
  • BioRBC-specific antibodies ever detected in the past, or detected on post-enrollment screening prior to first infusion of Bio-RBC

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Biotin Labeled Red Blood Cells
Participants are persons with sickle cell disease (SCD) receiving a blood transfusion with biotin labeled red blood cells (RBCs). Participants receive 2 or 3 units of transfused blood, depending on clinical care, and a portion of all units are biotin-labeled. Samples are taken for 12 weeks after the biotinylated transfusion. Participants continue to receive regular monthly transfusions (non-biotinylated) as part of their usual chronic transfusion therapy (CTT) during the follow-up period for this study.
Drug: Biotin Labeled Red Blood Cells
On the day of transfusion, a 20 mL aliquot is sterilely withdrawn from each RBC unit, washed and labeled with sulfo-NHS-biotin for 30 minutes, washed to stop the labeling reaction, then resuspended in plasma to a hematocrit of ~60%. The biotin-labeled RBC (BioRBC) is transfused along with the remainder of the RBC unit (unlabeled volume). Standard blood bank and CTT protocols and minor antigen matching for SCD patients are followed. Exact transfusion volume is determined based on pre-transfusion hemoglobin (Hb), sickle cell hemoglobin (HbS), and body weight, per clinical protocol.
Device: Pathogen-reduced Biotin Labeled Red Blood Cells
Participants taking part in this optional intervention have one transfusion episode with blood using the INTERCEPT Blood System. For this transfusion, a portion of each blood unit is biotin-labeled and one of those units has the INTERCEPT treatment. In addition to the blood drawn for the main study, individuals participating in this optional intervention have additional tubes of peripheral venous blood drawn for evaluating treatment-emergent antibodies specific to INTERCEPT RBCs and acridine surface label monitoring. Tests for treatment-emergent antibodies specific to INTERCEPT RBCs are performed according to procedures developed by Cerus Corporation. This optional study activity examines the survival of transfused RBCs with and without the INTERCEPT treatment.
Other Names:
  • INTERCEPT Blood System

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Mean Potential Lifespan (MPL) of Biotinylated RBCs
Time Frame: Up to Day 70
The long-term lifespan of transfused biotin labeled RBCs is assessed as the linearly extrapolated as mean potential lifespan (MPL) of biotinylated RBCs.
Up to Day 70
Percentage of Biotin Labeled RBCs
Time Frame: Posttransfusion 24-hour recovery (PTR-24), 28-day recovery, and 90-day recovery
Survival of the transfused biotin-labeled RBCs (B-RBCs) at each time point was expressed as a ratio (percentage) compared to the initial 15-minute-post-transfusion B-RBC concentration. From measurements obtained from 24-hours through week 12 post-transfusion, survival was plotted over time, and recovery measurements were extrapolated.
Posttransfusion 24-hour recovery (PTR-24), 28-day recovery, and 90-day recovery
Half-life of Biotinylated RBCs
Time Frame: Day 1 (24 hours post-transfusion) up to Week 12
Survival of transfused biotin labeled RBCs is assessed as the half-life of biotinylated RBCs. Half-life is defined only for BioRBC that remain in circulation for at least one day post transfusion.
Day 1 (24 hours post-transfusion) up to Week 12

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Percentage of Biotin Labeled RBCs Among Participants Receiving Pathogen-Reduced RBC Unit
Time Frame: Posttransfusion 24-hour recovery (PTR-24)
Survival of the transfused biotin-labeled RBCs (B-RBCs) at each time point was expressed as a ratio (percentage) compared to the initial 15-minute-post-transfusion B-RBC concentration. To compare the survival of transfused RBCs with and without the pathogen-reduced (PR) treatment, two different RBC units to transfuse were divided into 3 different labeled aliquots: RBC before PR, RBC after PR, and conventional RBC. The participants received the 3 biotin-labeled RBC aliquots and the survival of the 3 aliquots was examined over time with repeated blood samples.
Posttransfusion 24-hour recovery (PTR-24)
Half-life of Biotinylated RBCs Among Participants Receiving Pathogen-Reduced RBC Unit
Time Frame: Day 1 (24 hours post-transfusion) up to Week 12
Survival of transfused biotin labeled RBCs is assessed as the half-life of biotinylated RBCs. Half-life is defined only for BioRBC that remain in circulation for at least one day post transfusion. To compare the survival of transfused RBCs with and without the pathogen-reduced (PR) treatment, two different RBC units to transfuse were divided into 3 different labeled aliquots: RBC before PR, RBC after PR, and conventional RBC. The participants received the 3 biotin-labeled RBC aliquots and the survival of the 3 aliquots was examined over time with repeated blood samples.
Day 1 (24 hours post-transfusion) up to Week 12
Estimated Time to RBC Clearance Among Participants Receiving Pathogen-Reduced RBC Unit
Time Frame: Day 28 to Day 112
The estimated time to RBC clearance is extrapolated by a slope from samples obtained from Day 28 to Day 112 survival data. To compare the survival of transfused RBCs with and without the pathogen-reduced (PR) treatment, two different RBC units to transfuse were divided into 3 different labeled aliquots: RBC before PR, RBC after PR, and conventional RBC. The participants received the 3 biotin-labeled RBC aliquots and the survival of the 3 aliquots was examined over time with repeated blood samples.
Day 28 to Day 112

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Marianne Yee

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Cerus Corporation

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Marianne Yee, MD, Emory University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 29, 2021

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
April 30, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
April 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 29, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 8, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
June 11, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 22, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 29, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • IRB00117580
  • 1K23HL146904 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)
  • 2024P008374 (Other Identifier: Emory Insight Humans IRB)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

All of the individual participant data collected during the trial will be made available for sharing with other researchers, after deidentification.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Individual participant data will be made available for sharing immediately following publication, with no end date.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Data will be available for sharing with researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposal, for the purpose of achieving the aims in the approved proposal. Proposals should be directed to Marianne.Yee@choa.org. To gain access, data requestors will need to sign a data access agreement.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • ICF
  • ANALYTIC_CODE
  • CSR

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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