Department Blog
R. Gentry Wilkerson, MD, has received a grant from Pfizer, Inc., to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rivipansel in the treatment of vaso-occlusive crisis in hospitalized patients with sickle cell disease. Rivipansel is a new drug that reduces cell adhesion and inflammation and therefore could have a variety of clinical applications. Dr. Wilkerson’s multicenter trial will test its ability to improve blood flow in people with sickle cell disease and thus alleviate their pain. The grant is in the amount of $342,232.