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Research Preview on Improving Nicosan/Xickle
February 16, 2015 by Andrea

Photo by U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Roddy Rieger via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (Illustrative Purposes Only)

No sickler should have to suffer.

This is why we -- the Xickle team -- are dedicated not only to raising awareness about SCD, but also to developing products that can benefit sickle cell warriors of all ages. Most recently, we've begun our very own clinical trial in order to further our goal of receiving FDA-approval for Xickle RBC-Plus as a treatment for SCD. It may take up to seven years to receive such FDA approval. In the meantime, we are allowed to offer Xickle RBC-Plus as a supplement. We understand that people with SCD are bombarded with information about new drugs and supplements regularly, so to help you understand how Xickle RBC-Plus differs from other products you may have heard about, we'll be breaking things down in more detail below.

Basically, Xickle is an improved formulation of Nicosan (Nicosan/Niprisan was approved for the treatment of SCD in Nigeria) and is made up of the extracts from dried plants, one of them being sorghum bicolor leaves. It turns out, certain sorghum extracts have powerful anti-sickling activity.

During our research and development, we collected sorghum seeds from 19 countries, studied their germination, growth, and ability to respond to being mixed with different compounds thought to help encourage the anti-sickling property. Those seeds were then planted, harvested monthly, and analyzed. This research resulted in increased potency of the product, as well as advanced methods of standardizing the way the product is made. These strides will allow us to efficiently mass produce Xickle. This research is a big step forward in helping us reach our FDA-approval goals.

Read this and this, too, for even more information on our research and tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Category: Red blood Cell Health, Sickle Cell Disease Tags: Nicosan, Niprisan, sickle cell disease, Xickle RBC-Plus | Comments Off on Research Preview on Improving Nicosan/Xickle
Xickle RBC-Plus: The Next Generation of Niprisan
January 19, 2015 by Andrea

Remember Niprisan, the drug that was approved for the treatment of sickle cell in Nigeria? See the results from the Niprisan clinical trial in the graph below. Well, Xickle RBC-Plus is the new generation of Niprisan. Currently sold in its supplement form, Xickle RBC-Plus has shown that it can help prevent the red blood cells of sickle cell patients from sickling. Clinical trials are currently underway.

Before preparing for our human clinical trials, we tested Xickle RBC-Plus on mice with human sickle cell disease. The mice that were given Xickle RBC-Plus lived longer, healthier lives than the mice who were not given the supplement. Take a look at the photo below to see just how our supplement helped maintain the shape of the red blood cells in the treated mice.

This next image, shows the same supplement at work of the blood from a person with sickle cell disease. The cells on the left were taken from a sickle cell patient and put under low oxygen conditions, as expected, they sickled. The cells on the right were also drawn from a sickle cell patient and subjected to low oxygen conditions, but this time, Xickle RBC-Plus was added to the blood. As you can see, it helped keep them from becoming sickled.

In the next few weeks and months, we'll be presenting you with more updates about our clinical trial and its progress. Meanwhile, stay up to date by following us on Facebook and Twitter. Have any questions? Comment below or Tweet us @XickleRBC!

Category: Red blood Cell Health, Sickle Cell Disease Tags: Nicosan, Niprisan, sickle cell disease, Xickle RBC-Plus | Comments Off on Xickle RBC-Plus: The Next Generation of Niprisan
Big News: Clinical Trials Starting Soon!
January 12, 2015 by Andrea

We've got some really big news coming over the next several weeks and months -- Xickle will be making major moves in 2015! Here's a sneak peek of what's coming:

For the past couple of years, we've been working toward not only raising awareness for sickle cell, but also developing Xickle RBC-Plus as an FDA-approved product and getting it ready for clinical trials. Currently, Xickle RBC-Plus is only sold as an all-natural supplement, but over the course of the next few months, we'll begin posting updates about the start of our clinical trial, as well as its progress.

During the trials, participants will be given specified doses of the "drug equivalent" of Xickle RBC-Plus. After a determined amount of time taking the drug -- and at certain intervals throughout the process -- blood will be drawn from each participant. Once drawn, that blood will then be purposefully placed under hypoxic (low oxygen) conditions to see how the red blood cells react. If the cells do not sickle, that will show that, indeed, the drug is working and the effects can now be precisely measured.

The FDA drug approval process will take 4-6 years. However, the FDA still allows us to sell Xickle RBC-Plus as a supplement with structure functions claims, but without medical claims. And we can do a lot of good during those 4-6 years. We already have many customers across the world using Xickle RBC-Plus in its supplement form and they are having positive results -- check out a few of their testimonials!

Thank you all for your continued support! And remember, follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest updates! Happy New Year!

Category: Red blood Cell Health, Resources for Parents, Sickle Cell Disease Tags: prevent red blood cells from sickling, sickle cell disease, Xickle, Xickle RBC-Plus, Xickle RBC-Plus and sickle cell | Comments Off on Big News: Clinical Trials Starting Soon!
Beyond National Sickle Cell Advocacy Day: How to Continue the Call for More Government-Funded Sickle Cell Research
April 9, 2014 by Andrea

©Depositphotos.com/monkeybusiness

The mission of National Sickle Cell Advocacy Day (April 2-3, 2014) is to not only raise awareness and promote more education about this disease, but to also push for more funding and better treatment programs. This year, another main focus was the re-authorization of the Sickle Cell Treatment Act, which was passed in 2003 by President George W. Bush.

But after the crowds leave The Hill and head back to their respective homes, how can you ensure that you do your part in pushing for more government funding for sickle cell research?

1. Contact your senators and congressional representatives. Let your voice be heard and get in touch with your reps about pushing for more funding for sickle cell research and educational programs. To find out who represents your state, click here; you can choose to e-mail, snail mail, or call.

2. Participate in a local sickle cell run/walk. There are several that take place all over the country throughout the year. Simply search the Internet for events happening near you and register. Not a fan of running or walking? No worries -- these types of events always need volunteers, so you can contribute to the cause in that way, as well. If there don't happen to be any run/walks taking place in your area, you can always organize your own. Find out how here.

To get you started in your search, we've compiled a brief list of upcoming events in some cities:

8th Annual Stomp Out Sickle Cell 5K Walk, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014; Freedom Plaza, Washington, DC

17th Walter E. Brandon Sickle Cell 5K Walk/Run, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014; Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, PA

Tackle Sickle Cell 5K Run/Walk 2014, Saturday, June 14, 2014; Liberty State Park, Jersey City, NJ

Mark Walden Memorial Sickle Cell 5K, Saturday, October 18, 2014; Autozone Park, Memphis, TN

3. Join a local chapter of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA). As an advocate with the SCDAA, you'll be put in touch with national and legislative proponents of sickle cell. Through your contacts, you'll be able to help educate the public about this disease and help those suffering from it by staying on top of -- and advocating for -- new programs, services, and research. Click here to find a chapter near you, or e-mail the SCDAA at scdaa@sicklecelldisease.org.

Category: Sickle Cell Disease Tags: sickle cell advocacy, sickle cell disease, Xickle RBC-Plus | Comments Off on Beyond National Sickle Cell Advocacy Day: How to Continue the Call for More Government-Funded Sickle Cell Research
5 Ways to Improve Red Blood Cell Health, Structure, and Function
April 2, 2014 by Andrea

In addition to your doctor-approved treatment regimen, there are other ways to ensure that you maintain healthy red blood cells (RBCs). Read on to discover a few simple tips that can help keep your RBCs flowing as smoothly as possible and prevent your cells from sickling.

1. Eat Well. Keeping your body as healthy as it can be is your first defense against painful crises associated with sickle-cell disease. Eating foods that are rich in iron, copper, and vitamin B12, to name a few, can also help ensure that you are taking in the necessary nutrients your body needs to function optimally.

2. Stay Hydrated. Allowing a lapse in your water intake can lead to dehydration, which can cause your blood flow to slow and can trigger painful crises. According to the CDC, drinking plenty of water helps open up your veins, allowing sickle-shaped cells to flow through them more easily. Be sure to always carry water with you -- or have access to it at all times -- so that, no matter what you're doing, you're consciously taking the necessary steps to provide your cells (and your entire body) with the appropriate amount of fluids.

3. Get Fit... but Don't Overdo It. Paired with healthy eating and drinking habits, moderate exercise can also help keep your body in shape and your red blood cells flowing more easily -- as long as you stay hydrated, take breaks, and don't push yourself too hard. It's not recommended that people with sickle cell participate in strenuous workouts; however, taking walks and engaging in other low-impact routines, such as Pilates and yoga can be good for your overall wellness.

4. Break Bad Habits. We're not talking about nail biting and binging on reality TV, we mean habits like smoking and over-indulging in alcohol. Think about it: When you breathe in the smoke of cigarettes, cigars, etc., you're inhaling a mix of carbon monoxide, tar, and other poisonous gasses and chemicals, which greatly restrict the amount of oxygen getting to your lungs -- and with sickle cell, your body already has a lower level of oxygen than the average person. When it comes to alcoholic beverages, enjoying too many can lead to dehydration, which can further inhibit the flow of your RBCs, thus leading to severe pain.

5. Prevent Cell Sickling. In addition to all of the above, daily doses of Xickle® RBC-Plus can also be added to your wellness regimen. A mix of sorghum, clove, and pepper extracts, this all-natural supplement can actually help prevent cell sickling. Xickle® RBC-Plus is a vastly improved version of Niprisan® / Nicosan®, which was approved for the treatment of sickle-cell disease in Nigeria, based on its proven effectiveness in clinical trials.

Category: Red blood Cell Health Tags: how to keep red blood cells healthy, red blood cells, sickle cell and red blood cells, treatment for sickle cell disease, Xickle RBC-Plus | Comments Off on 5 Ways to Improve Red Blood Cell Health, Structure, and Function