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Pinpoint targeting promises improved success in gene therapy for blood and other disorders

Researchers at UNC-CH have developed a gene therapy method that targets specific types of cells, avoiding the less effective 'shotgun' approach. The technique successfully corrects genetic defects in primitive stem cells, which can be used to treat inherited blood disorders like hemophilia and non-inherited illnesses such as cancer.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 17, 1999

Targeted Genetics, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center And University Of Pittsburgh Report Phase I Clinical Trial Results Of Gene Therapy Treatment For Cancer

Researchers successfully delivered and expressed an E1A gene in both diseased and normal human cells using a proprietary non-viral liposomal delivery mechanism. The study showed decreased levels of surrogate tumor markers in three patients with breast and ovarian cancers, indicating potential as a treatment for various types of cancer.

Chemist Turns To Self-Assembly To Create New Drugs

Chemist Benjamin Miller has devised a way to create new drugs by using metal atoms to assemble countless combinations of molecules, then selecting the best candidates through a Darwinian process. This method shifts the burden of tedious drug development work off technicians' shoulders, offering a faster and more efficient approach.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalTetrahedron Letters·DateFeb 26, 1998