Advancements in Sickle Cell Treatment: Hope, Hesitancy, and Access Challenges
The FDA is considering the approval of exa-cel, a gene-editing therapy using CRISPR, to treat sickle cell disease, a debilitating blood disorder that primarily affects Black individuals. While the treatment offers hope for patients by eliminating the need for bone marrow transplants, concerns about potential side effects, costs (estimated at $2 million), and access to the therapy have arisen. Some Black patients and doctors express hesitancy due to historical medical distrust and uncertainty about long-term effects. Despite these concerns, doctors remain optimistic about the treatment's potential to significantly improve the lives of sickle cell disease patients.