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Hormone Therapy

Depo-Provera for Sickle Cell Anemia (SCD Depo Trial)

Phase 4
Waitlist Available
Led By Andrea Roe, MD MPH
Research Sponsored by University of Pennsylvania
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Diagnosis of sickle cell disease (SS, SB0, SB+, SC)
At least 1 and no more than 10 medical presentations (e.g. hospitalization, emergency room visit, outpatient infusion visit) for sickle cell-related pain during the past year
Must not have
Current use of hormonal contraception or the copper intrauterine device
Polycystic ovary syndrome or irregular periods
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up 6 months
Awards & highlights
No Placebo-Only Group
Drug Has Already Been Approved
Pivotal Trial

Summary

"This trial aims to determine if using a birth control shot, Depo-Provera, can help reduce pain in women with sickle cell disease. Adult women with sickle cell disease who often experience

Who is the study for?
Adult women with sickle cell disease who often have pain from their condition can join this study. They must not be using hormonal contraception during the initial 3-month baseline period and should be willing to receive Depo-Provera injections and complete various tests and surveys.
What is being tested?
The trial is testing if Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (Depo-Provera), an injectable contraceptive, can lessen pain in women with sickle cell disease. It involves a comparison between a 3-month period without hormonal contraception and a subsequent 3-month period after receiving the injection.
What are the potential side effects?
Possible side effects of Depo-Provera include menstrual changes, weight gain, headaches, abdominal discomfort, dizziness, decreased bone density over time, mood swings, or other hormone-related effects.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
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I have been diagnosed with sickle cell disease.
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I've had 1 to 10 hospital visits for sickle cell pain in the last year.
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I am a woman aged between 18 and 50.
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I have had at least one pain crisis a month for the last 6 months.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:
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I am currently using hormonal birth control or a copper IUD.
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I have polycystic ovary syndrome or irregular menstrual cycles.
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I have had a blood clot or stroke in the past.
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I am currently using crizanlizumab, voxelotor, or undergoing red cell exchange transfusion, or I have had a stem cell transplant.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~6 months
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and 6 months for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Frequency of acute vaso-occlusive episodes
Secondary study objectives
Bilirubin
C-reactive protein
D-dimer
+5 more

Side effects data

From 2019 Phase 4 trial • 59 Patients • NCT02357368
7%
Extended menstrual bleeding with blood clots
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Study treatment Arm
Levonorgestrel Intrauterine Device (Lng-IUD)
Etonogestrel Impant (Eng-Implant)
ParaGard® T 380A Intrauterine Copper Contraceptive
Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (DMPA)

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group
All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.
Drug Has Already Been Approved
The FDA has already approved this drug, and is just seeking more data.
Pivotal Trial
The final step before approval, pivotal trials feature drugs that have already shown basic safety & efficacy.

Trial Design

1Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (Depo-Provera)Experimental Treatment1 Intervention
All participants will receive a 150mg dose intramuscular administration of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) injectable suspension after a 3-month baseline with no hormonal contraception.
Treatment
First Studied
Drug Approval Stage
How many patients have taken this drug
Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA)
2018
Completed Phase 4
~250

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)NIH
3,933 Previous Clinical Trials
47,790,971 Total Patients Enrolled
26 Trials studying Sickle Cell Anemia
2,458 Patients Enrolled for Sickle Cell Anemia
University of PennsylvaniaLead Sponsor
2,076 Previous Clinical Trials
42,719,760 Total Patients Enrolled
Andrea Roe, MD MPHPrincipal InvestigatorUniversity of Pennsylvania
1 Previous Clinical Trials
40 Total Patients Enrolled
~43 spots leftby Apr 2028