Endari, L-glutamine oral powder, is approved for patients age five years and older with sickle cell disease to reduce severe complications associated with the blood disorder.
This drug is the first treatment approved for patients with sickle cell disease in almost 20 years
The safety and efficacy studied in a randomized trial of patients ages five to 58 years old with sickle cell disease who had two or more painful crises within the 12 months prior to enrollment in the trial: Patients treated with L-glutamine experienced fewer hospital visits for sickle cell crisis pain, fewer hospitalizations for sickle cell pain, fewer days in the hospital, and fewer occurrences of acute chest syndrome.
Common side effects include: constipation, nausea, headache, abdominal pain, cough, pain in the extremities, back pain and chest pain.