US-Forscher haben „Prime Editing“, eine hochmoderne Gen-Bearbeitungs-Technik, zum ersten Mal eine Person verwendet, um eine Person zu behandeln. Der Empfänger ist ein Teenager mit einer seltenen Immunstörung.

Submission Statement

*“Researchers designed the treatment to correct a mutation that causes chronic granulomatous disease, a dangerous condition that disables a variety of immune cells, including those called neutrophils. A month after the teenager received the treatment, he had experienced no serious side effects. And the therapy seemed to have restored the function of a crucial enzyme in two-thirds of his neutrophils — more than enough to provide a significant boost to his immune system.”*

According to the researchers, prime editing is an upgrade to the CRISPR-Cas9 treatments. It’s still too early to tell if this change will be permanent, but these early signs are gratifying.