Xechem International Inc. (fka XKEM)

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In the U.S., 80,000-100,000 people suffer from sickle cell anemia, an inherited blood disease that can cause episodes of severe pain, damage to vital organs, and death. Expenditures for sickle cell complications each year are a major burden to the U.S. healthcare system and are estimated at $1.5+ billion annually. As many as four million patients worldwide suffer from sickle cell disease. Although a variety of drugs are used to treat sickle cell disease, none has proven to be particularly effective. Many are too toxic to be used by children, who tend to experience high numbers of sickling-dependent vaso-occlusive episodes.