Skip to main content
TTrialFinderData
TrialFinderData is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. Always talk to your doctor.

Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 1 / Phase 2INTERVENTIONAL

Investigation Into the Use of BAH243 Lentiviral Vector for Gene Therapy in Treating Sickle Cell Disease

Lentiviral Vector Gene Therapy in Sickle Cell Disease Using Autologous CD34+ Hematopoietic Stem Cells Collected Via Apheresis and Modified With a Lentiviral Vector

Investigation Into the Use of BAH243 Lentiviral Vector for Gene Therapy in Treating Sickle Cell Disease (NCT06399107) is a Phase 1 / Phase 2 interventional studying Sickle Cell Disease and Sickle-Cell Disease With Crisis, sponsored by Essen Biotech. 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 study is an open-label, non-randomized, single-dose Phase 1/2 trial involving around 85 adult and pediatric participants aged between 2 and 50 years with sickle cell disease (SCD). It aims to assess the effectiveness of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) using BAH243 for SCD.

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 Sickle Cell Disease, 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.

Target enrollment of 85 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Sickle Cell Disease subpopulation. At this scale, the study has enough statistical power to detect a clear treatment effect but is not the largest cohort in the field.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: - Have a diagnosis of SCD, with either βS/βS, βS/β0, or βS/β+ genotype. - Be ≥2 and ≤50 years of age at time of consent. - Weigh a minimum of 6 kg. - Have a Karnofsky performance status of ≥60 (≥16 years of age) or a Lansky performance status of ≥60 (\<16 years of age). - Be treated and followed for at least the past 24 months prior to willing to sign a consent form in medical center(s) that maintained detailed records on sickle cell disease history. - In the setting of appropriate supportive care measures (e.g., pain management plan), have experienced at least 4 protocol-defined VOEs in the 24 months prior to willing to sign a consent form. - Have either experienced HU failure at any point in the past or must have intolerance to HU (intolerance is defined as the patient being unable to continue to take HU per PI judgment). - Female and male subjects of childbearing potential agree to use 1 method of highly effective contraception from Screening to at least 6 months after drug product infusion. - Provision of written willing to sign a consent form for this study by subject, or as applicable, subject's parent(s)/legal guardian(s). Who Should NOT Join This Trial: - Subjects for whom allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is medically appropriate per PI judgment and a willing, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched related hematopoietic stem cell donor is available. - Severe cerebral vasculopathy, defined by any history of overt ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, a history of abnormal transcranial Doppler (TCD) or TCD imaging (TCDI) for subjects ≤ 16 years of age (e.g. TCD velocity \>200 cm/sec) requiring ongoing chronic transfusions, a Screening TCD or TCDI velocity \> 200 cm/sec (central read), a Screening MRA showing \> 50% stenosis or occlusion in the circle of Willis (central read), or a Screening MRA showing the presence of Moyamoya (central read). ...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: * Have a diagnosis of SCD, with either βS/βS, βS/β0, or βS/β+ genotype. * Be ≥2 and ≤50 years of age at time of consent. * Weigh a minimum of 6 kg. * Have a Karnofsky performance status of ≥60 (≥16 years of age) or a Lansky performance status of ≥60 (\<16 years of age). * Be treated and followed for at least the past 24 months prior to Informed Consent in medical center(s) that maintained detailed records on sickle cell disease history. * In the setting of appropriate supportive care measures (e.g., pain management plan), have experienced at least 4 protocol-defined VOEs in the 24 months prior to informed consent. * Have either experienced HU failure at any point in the past or must have intolerance to HU (intolerance is defined as the patient being unable to continue to take HU per PI judgment). * Female and male subjects of childbearing potential agree to use 1 method of highly effective contraception from Screening to at least 6 months after drug product infusion. * Provision of written informed consent for this study by subject, or as applicable, subject's parent(s)/legal guardian(s). Exclusion Criteria: * Subjects for whom allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is medically appropriate per PI judgment and a willing, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched related hematopoietic stem cell donor is available. * Severe cerebral vasculopathy, defined by any history of overt ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, a history of abnormal transcranial Doppler (TCD) or TCD imaging (TCDI) for subjects ≤ 16 years of age (e.g. TCD velocity \>200 cm/sec) requiring ongoing chronic transfusions, a Screening TCD or TCDI velocity \> 200 cm/sec (central read), a Screening MRA showing \> 50% stenosis or occlusion in the circle of Willis (central read), or a Screening MRA showing the presence of Moyamoya (central read). * Positive for presence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 or 2 (HIV-1 or HIV-2), hepatitis B, hepatitis C, human T-lymphotropic virus-1 (HTLV-1), active syphilis. * Clinically significant, active bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic infection * Advanced liver disease, such as * clear evidence of liver cirrhosis, active hepatitis or significant fibrosis (based on MRI or liver biopsy) * liver iron concentration ≥15 mg/g unless liver biopsy shows no evidence of cirrhosis, active hepatitis or significant fibrosis * Inadequate bone marrow function, as defined by an absolute neutrophil count of \<1×10\^9/L (\<0.5×10\^9/L for subjects on hydroxyurea treatment) or a platelet count \<100×10\^9/L. * Any contraindications to the use of plerixafor during the mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells and any contraindications to the use of busulfan and any other medicinal products required during the myeloablative conditioning, including hypersensitivity to the active substances or to any of the excipients. * Patients needing therapeutic anticoagulation treatment during the period of conditioning through platelet engraftment * Unable to receive pRBC transfusion. * Prior receipt of an allogeneic transplant. * Prior receipt of gene therapy. * Any prior or current malignancy or immunodeficiency disorder, except previously treated, non-life threatening, cured tumors such as squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. * Immediate family member with a known or suspected Familial Cancer Syndrome. * Female subject is breastfeeding, pregnant or will attempt to become pregnant from Screening to at least 6 months after drug product infusion. * Any other condition that would render the subject ineligible for HSCT. * Participation in another clinical study with an investigational drug within 30 days of screening. * Presence of a chromosomal abnormality or genetic mutation that may put the subject at an increased risk of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) per Investigator's judgment. * Presence of genetic mutations that result in the inactivation of 2 or more α-globin genes

Treatments Being Tested

GENETIC

Drug Product is administered by IV infusion following myeloablative conditioning with busulfan

An autologous CD34+ cell-enriched population from patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), which includes hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that have been transduced with the BAH243 lentiviral vector (LVV) carrying the βA-T87Q-globin gene, is preserved in a cryopreservation solution.

Locations (1)

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.

District One Hospital
Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT06399107), the sponsor (Essen Biotech), 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 NCT06399107 clinical trial studying?

This study is an open-label, non-randomized, single-dose Phase 1/2 trial involving around 85 adult and pediatric participants aged between 2 and 50 years with sickle cell disease (SCD). It aims to assess the effectiveness of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) using BAH243 for SCD. The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT06399107?

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 NCT06399107?

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 NCT06399107. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT06399107. 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.