Gene therapies have ushered in a new era of medical possibilities, offering hope to patients with previously untreatable conditions. Their high costs, however, have raised concerns about accessibility. In response, companies are exploring innovative alternatives to traditional viral vectors, aiming to not only overcome their technical limitations but also significantly reduce costs.
In Vivo vs. Ex Vivo Gene Therapy
Ongoing developments in gene therapy continue to demonstrate its potential to transform the global healthcare system. Gene therapies may be the key to unlocking treatments and cures not only for a range of inherited genetic conditions but also for cancers, infections, and other serious illnesses. There are two methods by which gene therapy can be …
For Babies Waiting for a Donor Heart, Could Xenotransplantation Extend Survival?
eGenesis, a biotech company in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is experimenting in the field of xenotransplantation by transplanting gene-edited pig hearts into infant baboons. The company’s goal is to pave the way for similar transplants in human babies, offering a potential temporary solution for infants with serious heart defects while they wait for a human donor heart. …
Benefits of Gene Therapy
Gene therapy focuses on preventing or curing genetic conditions by manipulating the genetic material in living cells. For people with certain medical conditions, gene therapy can be life-changing — and often life-saving. While most gene therapies are currently only available as part of clinical trials, the field holds promise for treating a number of serious …
Research Reveals Yellow Crazy Ants’ Intriguing Chimerism
Yellow crazy ants are known for their frenzied movements following disturbances. While this interesting feature is what gave them their name, a groundbreaking international study points to another quality that makes them unique in the animal world. Research published in Science revealed that male yellow crazy ants are the first known animal species that have …
What Diseases or Conditions Can Gene Therapy Treat?
Gene therapy holds great promise for the treatment of a wide range of diseases and conditions. By manipulating the genetic material within cells, gene therapy aims to correct or compensate for genetic defects, restore cellular function, and ultimately alleviate the symptoms or eradicate the underlying causes of various disorders. What diseases or conditions can gene …
Types of Gene Therapy
Broadly speaking, the term “gene therapy” refers to techniques that seek to treat or prevent disease by modifying, manipulating, or altering the genetic material of a patient’s cells. Gene therapy holds promise for treating conditions ranging from genetic disorders and inherited diseases to certain types of cancers. Types of gene therapy vary depending on the specific …
The History of Gene Therapy
The promise and potential of gene therapy have gone through several iterations since the 1960s, when scientists first hypothesized that introducing DNA sequences into their patients’ cells might be able to cure certain genetic disorders. Tracking the history of gene therapy from the 1960s until today is a snapshot of scientific breakthroughs, setbacks, and milestones.
Researchers Hack Bacterial Syringe-Like System for Potential Drug Delivery
Some viruses and bacteria use a syringe-like system to infect host cells. Scientists have found a way to repurpose this system to deliver therapeutic proteins to human cells. This breakthrough could help to overcome a major obstacle in fulfilling the promise of CRISPR technology for gene editing and provide a new way to deliver protein-based …
Rare Genetic Mutation Offers Clues for Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease
Researchers have found a rare genetic mutation that provided protection against early-onset dementia in a man that was otherwise at high risk. Furthermore, although the man had only mild cognitive impairment, his brain scan showed the physical manifestations of severe dementia. The finding, published in Nature Medicine, sheds light on the causes of Alzheimer’s disease …
