(Memphis, TN) — Researchers at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis are using gene therapy to cure babies born with so-called bubble boy disease. The disease prevents babies from developing immune systems to fight even routine infections. In January of last year St. Jude researchers reported that babies in the trial developed fully functioning immune systems. The scientists said then they would monitor the children to confirm the gene therapy’s long-term benefits. In a study released today, researchers say the babies are now living a normal life with fully functioning immune systems.
St. Jude’s CEO says researchers are comfortable saying this is a cure. The study is published in today’s issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.
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Gus Koernig/mwl TN)
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04-18-2019 05:46:08
