A Study to Assess the Effect of Ticagrelor in Reducing the Number of Days With Pain in Patients With Sickle Cell Disease

Phase 2

Completed

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to determine whether ticagrelor is effective in reducing the number of days of pain, intensity of pain, and reducing the use of analgesics due to sickle cell disease

Detailed Description: This is a randomised, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, study evaluating 2 doses of ticagrelor in 90 patients aged 18 to 30 years, with sickle cell disease (SCD). Patients will be randomised to double-blind double-dummy treatment period in a 1:1:1 ratio (30 to each treatment group) to receive ticagrelor 10 mg twice daily (bid), or ticagrelor 45 mg bid, or placebo bid to determine the frequency of days with pain using an electronic diary (eDiary) every day. Approximately 180 patients will be enrolled. Patient will be followed for safety assessment during and after 2 weeks of treatment completion.

During the 16 week treatment period, patients will complete a daily eDiary concerning daily pain intensity, pain location, use of analgesics and absence from school or work. At the end of the study patients will be asked to rate the change in their sickle cell pain compared to the start of treatment. Platelet aggregation will be measured and reported as P2Y12 reaction units (PRU) pre-dose and 2 hours post-dose at week 4 and week 5 after treatment start. Pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters will be measured at 2 hours post-dose at week 4, and pre-dose and at 2 hours post-dose at week 5. Biomarkers will be assessed pre-dose at week 4, week 5 and week 8. During the study, patients will be evaluated for adverse events (AEs) including bleeding and vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC).

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Confirmed medical history or diagnosis of homozygous sickle cell (HbSS) or sickle beta-zero-thalassaemia (HbS/β0) by HPLC
If treated with hydroxyurea, the dose must have been stable for 3 months

Exclusion Criteria

History of transient ischaemic attack or clinically overt cerebrovascular accident
Moderate or severe hepatic impairment
Treatment with chronic red blood cell transfusion therapy
Pre-dominate cause of pain is not sickle cell disease related
Chronic treatment with anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs.

Arm && Interventions

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Proportion of Days With Pain Due to Sickle Cell Disease as Measured by an eDiary	Baseline through Week 12	To investigate the efficacy of 2 different doses of ticagrelor versus placebo in reducing the number of days with pain due to sickle cell disease.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Average of the Daily Worst Pain Values Reported Via eDiary	Baseline through Week 12	To determine the efficacy of 2 different doses of ticagrelor versus placebo in reducing the intensity of pain due to sickle cell disease. Intensity of pain was recorded on an 11-point scale where 0 represented no pain and 10 represented the worst pain imaginable.
Change in Proportion of Days With Analgesic Use Measured by an eDiary	Baseline through Week 12	To assess the efficacy of 2 different doses of ticagrelor versus placebo in reducing the use of analgesics by patients with sickle cell disease.