Healthy Returns: Pfizer pulls sickle cell disease drug from markets – here’s why it matters

CNBC October 1, 2024
Annika Kim Constantino, Ashley Capoot

Hello and happy Tuesday! Today, we’re unpacking a shocking move from Pfizer.

The pharmaceutical giant last week announced it would voluntarily withdraw its sickle cell disease therapy, Oxbryta, from worldwide markets — to the surprise of doctors, patients and investors.

Here’s why the drug is important: Oxbryta is one of at least six treatments for the inherited blood disorder. The drug first won accelerated approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2019, which requires further trials to confirm its benefits to patients.

Oxbryta was one of the centerpieces of Pfizer’s $5.4 billion acquisition of Global Blood Therapeutics in 2022.

Sickle cell disease causes red blood cells to become misshapen half-moons that get stuck inside blood...

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