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Oxbryta (voxelotor)
Voxelotor inhibits HbS polymerization by increasing oxygen affinity, potentially reducing RBC sickling and improving deformability.
Voxelotor, marketed as Oxbryta by Global Blood Therapeutics, holds a significant market position with $250M in revenue, making it the best-selling drug in its class. Its competitive advantage lies in its unique mechanism of action, which inhibits HbS polymerization and improves red blood cell deformability, addressing a critical aspect of sickle cell disease. However, the key risk is the lack of ongoing clinical trials to expand its indications, potentially limiting its growth compared to competitors like Casgevy and Lovotibeglogene autotemcel, which are also targeting sickle cell disease. The pipeline outlook remains cautious, with no new clinical trials planned and the requirement for a PD-L1 companion diagnostic for several potential new indications.
At a glance
| Generic name | voxelotor |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Global Blood Theraps |
| Drug class | Hemoglobin S polymerization inhibitor |
| Target | Hemoglobin S (HbS) |
| Therapeutic area | Hematology |
| Phase | discontinued |
| First approval | 2019 |
| Annual revenue | 250 |
Mechanism of action
Voxelotor works by binding to hemoglobin S (HbS) in red blood cells (RBCs), which increases the affinity of HbS for oxygen. This increased affinity helps prevent the formation of HbS polymers, which are responsible for the sickling of RBCs. By inhibiting this process, voxelotor can improve RBC deformability and reduce whole blood viscosity.
Approved indications
- Sickle cell disease
Common side effects
Drug interactions
- Sensitive CYP3A4 Substrates
- Strong or Moderate CYP3A4 Inducers
Patents
| Patent | Expiry | Type |
|---|---|---|
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| FDA label | Mechanism, indications, dosing, boxed warnings, drug interactions |
| FDA Orange Book | Patents + exclusivity |
| SEC EDGAR | Revenue + earnings |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Oxbryta CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Oxbryta updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Global Blood Theraps portfolio CI