Cosmid Corp is a biopharmaceutical company that owns the worldwide patent rights to COS-103, currently being developed in the U.S. to treat Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). COS-103 is an orphan drug and may help meet a substantial medical need in the treatment of SCD, especially in children.
     COS-103 is a reformulation and significant improvement of an existing drug (NIPRISAN) sold outside of the United States. The National Institute of Health Sickle Cell Disease Reference Laboratory has evaluated more than 800 candidate drugs sent from researchers, universities and companies. The most effective drug with minimal adverse effects had been NIPRISAN.  COS-103 has been shown to be more potent.
     Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary blood disorder, affecting 90,000-140,000 people in the United States and Europe (Primary Market) and tens of millions of people worldwide (Secondary Market).  In the US, those with SCD have an average mortality in their 40s, a poor quality of life, and high medical costs. Existing therapies are inadequate; therefore COS-103 will be a major breakthrough for this orphan disease.