We’ve been watching advances in gene therapy that bring hope to those who suffer vision loss or blindness due to genetic conditions. And we’re not the only ones.
This just in: NPR recently interviewed patients involved in a landmark study using a gene-editing technique called CRISPR. NPR is the first to interview these patients.
CRISPR is a technique that edits a person’s genes to treat genetic conditions. Genes are typically edited outside the body, but in cases involving vision loss, it’s done locally — or, directly on the patient’s eyes. This is the first-ever in-body use of gene therapy, and it’s being done by Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Editas Medicine. It’s exciting especially for people who yearn to see a family member’s face or read a book or watch a movie again.
In case you missed it, check out our recent gene therapy blog post, which talks about companies gaining traction in the gene therapy space, including those within ophthalmology.
CRISPR has the potential to be life changing.
Gene Therapy Building Long-Awaited Momentum
Gene therapy is one of the hottest, most eye-opening areas in the life sciences right now. Its earliest victories happened more than 30 years ago, but, since then, gene therapy has struggled to build momentum — until now.