Gene therapy trial gives deaf children hearing in both ears;
Study participants born unable to hear could locate sound sources, recognise speech and dance to music after treatment
https://www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/jun/05/gene-therapy-trial-restores-hearing-in-both-ears-for-deaf-children
#science #news #biology #deafness #GeneTherapies #genetics #breakthrough

German researchers welcome national, EU support for gene therapy research https://www.euractiv.com/section/health-consumers/news/german-researchers-welcome-national-and-eu-support-for-gene-therapy-research/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #genetherapies #Germany #rarediseases

Greek legal framework fails to address complexities of access to gene therapies https://www.euractiv.com/section/health-consumers/news/greek-legal-framework-fails-to-address-complexities-of-access-to-gene-therapies/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #genetherapies #raredisease

Italy’s advanced therapy journey https://www.euractiv.com/section/health-consumers/news/italys-advanced-therapy-journey/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #genetherapies #Italy #Orphandrugs #pharma

EU needs to step up to unleash gene therapies potential, stakeholders say https://www.euractiv.com/section/health-consumers/news/eu-needs-to-step-up-to-unleash-gene-therapies-potential-stakeholders-say/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #ATMPs #genetherapies #rarediseases

AAAS: "Hello kitty, goodbye kittens? Gene therapy spays cats without surgery." Spaying or neutering cats + dogs has the added benefit of protecting against mammary cancer + other disorders. Globally, more than half of the approimately 1.5 billion dogs + cats are homeless. "Many die on the streets, victims of cars or disease; others are killed in mass culling campaigns that seek to protect wildlife or prevent the spread of rabies." Spay/neuter surgeries casn help, but large-scle sterilization of often feral animals is infeasible. 'David Pépin, a reproductive biologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, spent his early career researching antimüllerian hormone (AMH), which is produced by follicles in the ovary that give rise to eggs.' Pépin + colleagues inserted the AMH gene with a harmless virus often used to ferry replacement genes into cells with an injection into thigh muscles. The treated cats failed to ovulate, while the sham-injected controls remained fertile. One cat followed over 5 yrs continued to exhibit elevated AMH. A meeting is planned next month with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to map out larger safety + efficacy studies, but a commercial product will probably not be available for 5 yrs. Having far fewer unsupervised cats in the world would protect many birds + ecosystems. #spayandneuter #genetherapies #overpopulation