Following the introduction of polio vaccines in the 1950s polio incidence declined rapidly. Once infected, there is no specific treatment. The disease can be prevented by the polio vaccine, with multiple doses required for lifelong protection. There are two broad types of polio vaccine; an injected vaccine using inactivated poliovirus and an oral vaccine containing attenuated (weakened) live virus. Through the use of both types of vaccine, incidence of wild polio has decreased from an estimated 350,000 cases in 1988 to 6 confirmed cases in 2021, confined to just three countries. There are rare incidents of disease transmission and/or of paralytic polio associated with the attenuated oral vaccine and for this reason the injected vaccine is preferred. Signs and symptoms
The term "poliomyelitis" is used to identify the disease caused by any of the three serotypes of poliovirus. Two basic patterns of polio infection are described: a minor illness which does not involve the central nervous system (CNS), sometimes called abortive poliomyelitis, and a major illness involving the CNS, which may be paralytic or nonparalytic. Adults are more likely to develop symptoms, including severe symptoms, than children.In most people with a normal immune system, a poliovirus infection is asymptomatic. In about 25% of cases, the infection produces minor symptoms which may include sore throat and low fever. These symptoms are temporary and full recovery occurs within one or two weeks.In about 1 percent of infections the virus can migrate from the gastrointestinal tract into the central nervous system (CNS).
Voxelotor, sold under the brand name Oxbryta, is a medication used for the treatment of sickle cell disease. Developed by Global Blood Therapeutics, voxelotor is the first hemoglobin oxygen-affinity modulator. Voxelotor has been shown to have disease-modifying potential by increasing hemoglobin levels and decreasing hemolysis indicators in sickle cell patients. It has a safe profile in sickle cell patients and healthy volunteers, without any dose-limiting toxicity.In November 2019, voxelotor received accelerated approval in the United States for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD) for those twelve years of age and older. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers it to be a first-in-class medication. In December 2021, voxelotor received accelerated approval in the United States for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD) for those aged four to eleven years. Side effects
Common side effects include headache, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, fatigue, rash and pyrexia (fever). History
Voxelotor was granted accelerated approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November 2019. The FDA granted the application for voxelotor fast track designation and orphan drug designation.The approval of voxelotor was based on the results of a clinical trial with 274 participants with sickle cell disease.The FDA granted the approval of Oxbryta to Global Blood Therapeutics.