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Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 1 / Phase 2INTERVENTIONAL

A Safety, Efficacy, and Pharmacokinetic (PK) Study of HBI-002, an Oral Carbon Monoxide (CO) Therapeutic, in Subjects With Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)

An Open Label Phase 2a Ascending Multiple Dose Safety, Efficacy, and Pharmacokinetic Study of HBI-002 Carbon Monoxide Oral Liquid Drug Product in Adolescents and Adults With Sickle Cell Disease.

A Safety, Efficacy, and Pharmacokinetic (PK) Study of HBI-002, an Oral Carbon Monoxide (CO) Therapeutic, in Subjects With Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) (NCT06144749) is a Phase 1 / Phase 2 interventional studying Anemia, Sickle Cell, sponsored by Hillhurst Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

This is a multi-center, open label Phase 2a clinical trial in subjects with sickle cell disease to assess safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of HBI-002, an orally administered liquid containing carbon monoxide (CO), with doses daily for 14 days.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 1 trials test a new treatment for the first time in humans, focusing on safety, dosing, and how the body processes the drug. For Anemia, Sickle Cell, a Phase 1 study typically enrolls a small number of participants — often healthy volunteers or patients who have exhausted standard treatment options. Phase 1 results determine whether a treatment moves into larger Phase 2 efficacy studies.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

With a target enrollment of 9 participants, this is a small study — typical of early-phase research, rare-disease trials, or pilot studies designed to generate preliminary signal before a larger study is launched.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: 1. Signed willing to sign a consent form. 2. Male or female 14-55 years of age inclusive. 3. Negative Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-Hepatitis C (aHCV), anti-Human weakened immune system Virus (aHIV), and SARS-CoV-2 test. Subjects that test SARS-CoV-2 positive at screen or baseline can be re-screened at least four weeks after the positive test so long as they are asymptomatic and test negative. 4. Non-smoker or vaper (no use of tobacco or marijuana products within 3 months of screening). 5. Body weight. For 18 years of age and above, between 45 kg and 110 kg (inclusive) and with body mass index (BMI) less than 30 kg/m2. For 14 to 18 years of age, above 35 kg and with BMI less than 30 kg/m2. 6. Established Hb-SS or Sβ0 SCD with: 1. ≤10 vaso-occlusive crises (VOC) per year over the prior two years; and 2. a history of one or more episodes of one of the following: acute chest syndrome, stroke, priapism, bone avascular necrosis, or splenic sequestration. 7. Subjects may or may not be receiving hydroxyurea (HU) for SCD, but if receiving HU, they must be taking this medication according to physician instructions and without dose adjustment for a minimum of one month prior to the inclusion to this study. 8. Normal cardiac function as evidenced by clinical, ECG and laboratory findings. 9. Carboxyhemoglobin level by co-oximetry ≤ 3.5% (prior to first dose). 10. The absence of current clinically relevant abnormalities identified by a detailed medical history, full physical examination including blood pressure and pulse rate measurement, 12-lead ECG, and clinical chemistries including liver and kidney function, as determined by the Investigator. ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Signed informed consent. 2. Male or female 14-55 years of age inclusive. 3. Negative Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-Hepatitis C (aHCV), anti-Human Immunodeficiency Virus (aHIV), and SARS-CoV-2 test. Subjects that test SARS-CoV-2 positive at screen or baseline can be re-screened at least four weeks after the positive test so long as they are asymptomatic and test negative. 4. Non-smoker or vaper (no use of tobacco or marijuana products within 3 months of screening). 5. Body weight. For 18 years of age and above, between 45 kg and 110 kg (inclusive) and with body mass index (BMI) less than 30 kg/m2. For 14 to 18 years of age, above 35 kg and with BMI less than 30 kg/m2. 6. Established Hb-SS or Sβ0 SCD with: 1. ≤10 vaso-occlusive crises (VOC) per year over the prior two years; and 2. a history of one or more episodes of one of the following: acute chest syndrome, stroke, priapism, bone avascular necrosis, or splenic sequestration. 7. Subjects may or may not be receiving hydroxyurea (HU) for SCD, but if receiving HU, they must be taking this medication according to physician instructions and without dose adjustment for a minimum of one month prior to the inclusion to this study. 8. Normal cardiac function as evidenced by clinical, ECG and laboratory findings. 9. Carboxyhemoglobin level by co-oximetry ≤ 3.5% (prior to first dose). 10. The absence of current clinically relevant abnormalities identified by a detailed medical history, full physical examination including blood pressure and pulse rate measurement, 12-lead ECG, and clinical chemistries including liver and kidney function, as determined by the Investigator. 11. Hematology including hemoglobin \>6g/dL, baseline white blood cell count \>7,000/uL and absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \>3,500/uL, platelet count \>80,000/uL and including coagulation labs (PT, PTT), with all levels documented as stable or not clinically significant changes over the period between screening and baseline. 12. Negative pregnancy test for females. 13. Subjects must be willing to use a highly effective method of contraception for the duration of the study and for 30 days thereafter, if applicable. 1. Male subjects, without a vasectomy, must use a condom and be instructed that their female partner should use another form of contraception such as an IUD, diaphragm with spermicide, oral contraceptive, injectable progesterone, subdermal implant if the female partner could become pregnant. 2. Female subjects of childbearing potential (not surgically sterilized and less than one year post-menopausal) should use a form of contraception such as an intrauterine device (IUD), diaphragm with spermicide, oral contraceptive, injectable progesterone, subdermal implant, and be instructed that their male partners should use a condom, if not vasectomized. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Hemoglobinopathy other than SCD or S/beta 0 thalassemia. 2. Clinical, ECG or laboratory evidence of cardiac dysfunction as determined by the PI. 3. Acute chest syndrome or VOC within 21 days or signs or symptoms of an impending vaso-occlusive crisis as determined by both the subject and PI immediately prior to first dosing with HBI-002/placebo. 4. Current smoker. 5. Clinically significant illness or surgery other than that associated with SCD within 3 months prior to dosing. 6. Blood transfusion within six weeks prior to the first administration of study drug. 7. Exposure to any live vaccine within 28 days prior to study drug administration. 8. History of febrile or infective illness within 14 days prior to dosing. 9. Positive pregnancy test or breast feeding for females. 10. Weight loss or gain of more than 5 kg within 3 months prior to dosing. 11. History of alcohol abuse or dependence or regular use of alcohol within six months prior to dosing (defined as more than 14 units of alcohol per week; 1 Unit= 150 mL wine, 360 mL beer or 45 mL of 40% alcohol) 12. History of renal dysfunction with glomerular filtration rate \<30 mL/min/1.73m2. 13. History of pulmonary infiltrate or pneumonia within 6 months prior to dosing or pulmonary/bronchial infection within 2 weeks prior to dosing. 14. Subject on domiciliary oxygen 15. History of cancer, with the exception of adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin more than 1 year prior. 16. History of cardiac disease. 17. History of drug abuse, including administration of opioids for reasons other than pain control. Use of opioids for control of pain is permitted. 18. Use of voxelotor or crizanlizumab or prescription drugs other than prescribed for SCD, within 7 days or 5 half-lives (whichever is longer) prior to dosing. Herbal and vitamin supplements (excluding L-glutamine) must be discontinued 14 days prior to dosing. Prescribed analgesics for regular self-administration are permitted provided that dosing of such has not been increased or new drugs added over the past 7 days. 19. Unwilling or unable to comply with the requirements of the protocol. 20. Treatment with an investigational drug within the longer of 30 days or five half-lives. 21. Clinically significant ECG abnormalities or vital sign abnormalities (systolic blood pressure lower than 90 or above 140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure lower than 50 or above 90 mmHg, or heart rate less than 45 or above 100 bpm or arrhythmia) at screening and/or baseline, as determined by the Investigator. Heart rate corrected QT interval-Frederica's method (QTcF) \>450 msec male, \>470 msec female. 22. Other severe acute or chronic medical or psychiatric condition or laboratory abnormality that may increase the risk associated with study participation or investigational product administration or may interfere with the interpretation of study results and, in the judgment of the investigator, would make the subject inappropriate for entry into the study. 23. Any coincident disease or condition that in the opinion of the investigator will make the subject inappropriate for entry into the study or will confound the assessment of safety. 24. History of allergic reactions to any of the drug product excipients.

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

HBI-002

Oral liquid carbon monoxide drug product.

Locations (2)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

Cevaxin - The Panama Clinic
Panama City, Panama
Hospital Pacífica Salud
Panama City, Panama

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT06144749), the sponsor (Hillhurst Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT06144749 clinical trial studying?

This is a multi-center, open label Phase 2a clinical trial in subjects with sickle cell disease to assess safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of HBI-002, an orally administered liquid containing carbon monoxide (CO), with doses daily for 14 days. The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT06144749?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT06144749?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT06144749. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT06144749. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.