Icagen’s Stock Slumps with Phase III Sickle Cell Study Termination

Icagen has stopped the Phase III trial of its sickle cell treatment for adults. It opened trading today at $1.25, down 32%.

The company’s Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) assessed that senicapoc showed low probability of achieving a reduction in crisis rate, the primary endpoint. There were no statistically significant differences in safety measurements between the senicapoc and placebo-treatment groups.

Icagen says that will analyze final data when available and consider future options for the development of senicapoc.

In making their recommendation, the DMC noted that data from the trial indicated the expected increases in hemoglobin and hematocrit and decreases in reticulocytes as well as LDH and bilirubin, both markers of hemolysis.