The Download, the first personalized gene editing drug and Montana’s Right to Try Experiment
The rapid-fire attempt to rewrite the child’s DNA marks the first time gene editing has been tailored for a single individual. The rapid-fire attempt to rewrite the child’s DNA marks the first time gene editing has been tailored to treat a single individual.
The baby who was treated, Kyle “KJ” Muldoon Jr., suffers from a rare metabolic condition caused by a particularly unusual gene misspelling. Researchers claim that their attempts to correct the mistake demonstrate the high precision of new types of gene editing software. The technology is able to cure thousands of genetic disorders, but most of them are so rare and difficult to treat that it would be impossible for companies develop a treatment. Read the full story.
–Antonio Regalado
Access to experimental medical treatments is expanding across the US
–Jessica Hamzelou
A couple of weeks ago I was in Washington, DC, for a gathering of scientists, policymakers, and longevity enthusiasts. The group had gathered to discuss how to accelerate the development of drugs, and other treatments which could extend human life. Montana’s state legislature has now passed a bill which outlines how clinics in the state can sell unproven experimental treatments to anyone interested. It is part of a larger trend, the expansion of Right to Try in the US. It’s a dangerous departure from evidence-based medical practice. Read the complete story.
