FDA Approves First Gene-Editing Treatment for Sickle Cell Disease

story

DEC 2023

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story last updated JAN 31

The Spin

Narrative A

These treatments are a medical marvel that will help better the lives of roughly 100K African Americans as well as Hispanic Americans across the country over time. With the FDA's approval, doctors will now be allowed to take a patient's own blood and replace the faulty red blood cells with new, genetically edited healthy ones, thus bringing long-awaited relief from the horrific pain and fatigue typically associated with this disease.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Narrative B

While the use of gene editing is remarkably good news for those with diseases like sickle cell, the public should also have a seat at the table when debating the potential harms of this new medical tool. For example, as voluntary procedures like the newly approved treatment are widely seen as positive, potential future uses like creating desirable traits in babies are seen by many as unethical. It should also be noted that this treatment has not been documented as a "cure" just yet.

Nature