Kendric Cromer, a 12-year-old boy from a suburb of Washington, has become the first person in the world with sickle cell disease to start a commercially approved gene therapy that may cure the condition. For the estimated 20,000 people with sickle cell in the United States who qualify for the treatment, Kendric’s journey offers hope, but also showcases the challenges patients face as they seek new treatments. This new treatment could make possible lives that sickle cell patients have longed for, reducing episodes of searing pain and providing a chance for a normal life.
The Food and Drug Administration recently gave two companies authorization to sell gene therapy to people with sickle cell disease. Bluebird Bio, a company based in Somerville, Mass., is treating Kendric, who is the first commercial patient. The treatment involves removing Kendric’s bone marrow stem cells, genetically modifying them in a specialized lab, and then reinserting them back into his body after months of processing. This complex and time-consuming process can only be done for a limited number of patients each year due to the involved steps and intensive care required during and after treatment.
Kendric began his treatment at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, becoming the top candidate for the procedure due to his severe condition and insurance coverage availability. Despite the high cost of the gene therapy treatment, which is listed at $3.1 million by Bluebird Bio, medical centers have long waiting lists of patients seeking relief from sickle cell disease. For Kendric’s family, the treatment is a significant financial and emotional burden, but they are grateful that the treatment has begun and hope for a positive outcome for Kendric’s health and well-being.
Kendric’s parents, Deborah and Keith, were unaware that they might have a child with sickle cell until Deborah was pregnant with Kendric. Despite the one-in-four chance that their child would have the disease, they decided to take the chance and proceeded with the pregnancy. Kendric’s life has been filled with pain crises and severe damage caused by sickle cell disease, impacting his ability to engage in normal activities and causing him to spend many days in the hospital for treatment and pain management.
Deborah and Keith always stayed by Kendric’s side during his hospital visits, supporting him through the pain and challenges caused by his condition. Kendric’s desire to be cured has led him to undergo the gene therapy treatment, with hopes of being able to live a normal, pain-free life and pursue his dreams of becoming a geneticist and playing basketball. The grueling process of gene therapy, the high cost of treatment, and the limited availability of treatment centers underscore the challenges faced by sickle cell patients seeking relief from this debilitating genetic disorder.
Despite the difficulties and uncertainties ahead, Kendric remains optimistic about his future and the possibility of a successful outcome from the gene therapy treatment. His story serves as a beacon of hope for others with sickle cell disease, highlighting the transformative potential of gene therapy in providing relief and a chance for a better quality of life for those affected by this genetic disorder. As Kendric embarks on this groundbreaking medical journey, his resilience, strength, and determination inspire hope for a future free from the burdens of sickle cell disease.
