Recruiting
Phase 2

Empagliflozin

Sponsor:

University of Illinois at Chicago

Code:

NCT07175051

Conditions

Sickle Cell Anemia (HbSS, or HbSβ-thalassemia0)

Albuminuria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 60

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Empagliflozin (oral)

Study Details

Brief summary:

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is an inherited red blood disorder. The kidneys are among the most commonly affected organ systems in SCA. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved empagliflozin as a treatment to reduce the decline of kidney function in those with kidney disease. The proposed research study aims to determine whether empagliflozin can prevent the progression of kidney dysfunction in patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA) who are at high risk of developing advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Conditions

Sickle Cell Anemia (HbSS, or HbSβ-thalassemia0)

Albuminuria

Study ID

NCT07175051

Start date

Apr 8, 2026

Status verified date

May, 2026

Completion date

Oct, 2030

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Oct, 2029

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 60

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Documentation of SCA genotype (HbSS or HbSβ0-thalassemia)
  • Albuminuria defined by a UACR of 100 - 2,000 mg/g creatinine at the screening
  • Hemoglobin (Hb) ≥ 5.5 g/dL during screening
  • For participants taking Endari, the dose of Endari must be stable for at least one month prior to signing the ICF and with no anticipated need for dose adjustments during the study
  • For participants on crizanlizumab or chronic red blood cell transfusions, the therapy must have started at least 3 months prior to consent
  • For participants taking an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) or angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), the dose must be stable for at least 3 months prior to signing the ICF and with no anticipated need for dose adjustments during the study, in the opinion of the Investigator
  • Participants must demonstrate regular compliance with clinic visits and outpatient management
  • Participants, if female and of childbearing potential, will use highly effective methods of contraception from study start to 30 days after the last dose of the study drug
  • Participant has provided documented informed consent or assent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Concurrent diagnosis of diabetes mellitus
  • Female who is breast feeding, pregnant, or unwilling to use birth control as described in the protocol
  • Prior hypersensitivity or intolerance to a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i)
  • Active or open leg ankle ulcer
  • Chronic urinary tract infection
  • Hospitalized for sickle cell crisis or other vaso-occlusive event within 14 days prior to signing consent
  • Hepatic dysfunction characterized by alanine aminotransferase (ALT) >5× ULN
  • Participants with acute bacterial infection requiring antibiotic use should delay screening/enrollment until the course of antibiotic therapy has been completed
  • Participants with known active hepatitis A, B, or C or who are known to be human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive
  • Moderate to severe CKD (defined by an eGFR < 30 mL/min/1.73m2, on chronic dialysis, or having received a kidney transplantation)
  • History of malignancy within the past 2 years prior to treatment Day 1 requiring chemotherapy and/or radiation (with the exception of local therapy for non-melanoma skin malignancy)
  • History of unstable or deteriorating cardiac or pulmonary disease within 6 months prior to consent including but not limited to the following:

1. Unstable angina pectoris or myocardial infarction or elective coronary intervention
2. Uncontrolled clinically significant arrhythmias
  • Any condition affecting drug absorption, such as major surgery involving the stomach (e.g. bariatric surgery) or small intestine (prior cholecystectomy is acceptable)
  • Participated in another clinical trial of an investigational agent (or medical device) within 30 days or 5 half-lives of agent, whichever is longer, or is currently participating in another trial of an investigational agent or medical device)
  • Medical, psychological, or behavioral conditions, which, in the opinion of the Investigator, may preclude safe participation, confound study interpretation, interfere with compliance, or preclude informed consent
  • Contraindication to MRI (certain pacemakers, electronic implants, shrapnel in the eyes, or certain intracranial aneurysm clips)

Study Design

Enrollment

20 participants

Anticipated

Intervention Model

Single group

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Treatment

Empagliflozin

Interventions

Empagliflozin (oral)

10 mg

Primary outcome measure

  • Efficacy of empagliflozin - urine biomarker: Adenosine [ Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 48 weeks ]
  • Efficacy of empagliflozin - urine biomarker: Nephrin [ Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 48 weeks ]
  • Efficacy of empagliflozin - urine biomarker: Kidney injury molecule-1 [ Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 48 weeks ]
  • Efficacy of empagliflozin R2* Cortical Oxygenation on kidney fMRI [ Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 48 weeks ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Santosh L Saraf, MD

312-996-5680ssaraf@uic.edu

Locations

University of Illinois Chicago, Sickle Cell Center

Recruiting

Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60302

Contacts

Santosh L Saraf, MD

312-996-5680ssaraf@uic.edu

More Information

Sponsor

University of Illinois at Chicago

Last update posted

May 19, 2026

Last verified

May, 2026

Keywords

  • Empa-CKD
  • Sickle Cell-Related Kidney Disease

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-10-08. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of Illinois at Chicago on 2026-05-19. Recruitment status is synced daily from ClinicalTrials.gov and may not reflect the sponsor's current status. Confirm during your call.