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Detroit, Michigan and Awka, Nigeria – June 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Functional Fluidics, a Detroit-based global health technology company specializing in red blood...
cell health proudly announces the official opening of its new clinical research center and laboratory in Awka, Nigeria For nearly a decade, Functional Fluidics has been accelerating the development of life-changing therapies, supporting clinical trials, and bridging the gap between clinical research and patient care. During this time, pharmaceutical companies have heavily invested in red blood cell modifying therapies with a lead indication of sickle cell disease. Between July 2017 and December 2023, the FDA approved 3 pharmaceutical and 2 gene editing therapies for sickle cell disease. There are approximately 20 pharmaceutical companies developing a pipeline of red blood cell therapies initially focused on sickle cell disease. These companies have expanded clinical trials outside of the U.S. and Europe into Sub-Saharan Africa to support clinical trials for this growing pipeline of sickle cell therapies. The new Functional Fluidics state-of-the-art facilitywill serve as its initial entry into Sub-Saharan Africa, to support the growing need for clinical trial infrastructure.
Sub-Saharan Africa is the global epicenter of sickle cell disease (SCD) and does not have
adequate access to the most important therapies available to combat the disease. The World
Health Organization indicates that nearly 70% of the global SCD population lives in Africa.
Nigeria bears the greatest burden, with an estimated 4 - 6 million people living with SCD and 1
in every 4 individuals with sickle cell trait.
Functional Fluidics Nigeria will play an essential role in establishing a global standard for
defining red blood cell health, enabling the generation of high-quality data for research and
clinical trials, and ensuring innovative therapies are accessible to the people who need them
the most.
Dr. Patrick Hines, the Founder and CEO of Functional Fluidics, commented,“This is a very
important milestone in the history of our company. Our goal of facilitating the development
of new therapies and improving the lives of individuals living with sickle cell disease in Nigeria
and globally has finally become a reality. We are grateful to our dedicated team and
stakeholders for their ongoing commitment and supporting patients”
Dr. Nnamdi Okeke, Vice President, Head of Global and Medical Affairs, has spent most of the
past year managing the buildout of the facility in Nigeria. He stated “Our new clinical research
facility brings hope to the millions of individuals with sickle cell disease, the warriors who
have never been educated on this disease, and the many families who have lost their loved
ones. This research center allows them to actively participate in the development of new
sickle cell therapies. This is just the beginning; we have a tremendous amount of work
remaining.”
About Functional Fluidics
Functional Fluidics is a global health technology company specializing in red blood cell health.
We leverage diagnostic technology and healthcare data to accelerate the development of lifechanging therapies, support clinical trials, and bridge the gap between clinical research and
patient care. Our mission is to make red blood cell health an achievable endpoint to improve
quality of life - starting with Sickle Cell Disease.
To learn more, please visit: www.FunctionalFluidics.com
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