Global Blood Therapeutics Goes Head to Head With Novartis On Sickle Cell

On Nov. 15, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Adakveo (crizanlizumab) to treat painful episodes called vaso-occlusive crises in patients with sickle cell disease. Will this approval give Adakveo's manufacturer Novartis (NYSE: NVS) a big enough head start against Global Blood Therapeutics (NASDAQ: GBT), which is awaiting FDA approval for its sickle cell disease drug voxelotor?