12-Year-Old Kendric Cromer First to Receive Approved Gene Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease

Oct 22, 2024, 12:38 AM

Gene therapy has shown promising results in treating sickle cell disease, with a significant milestone achieved recently. Kendric Cromer, a 12-year-old boy, became the first patient to receive an approved gene therapy for sickle cell disease. After spending 44 days in the hospital, he was discharged from Children’s National Hospital in Washington. Kendric expressed his relief, saying, “I thought I would have sickle cell for the rest of my life.” The therapy offers hope to the approximately 100,000 people in the U.S. who have sickle cell disease, particularly the 20,000 with the most severe cases. However, the treatment comes with challenges and costs.