Big First for Gene Editing

November 2, 2023

The FDA appears ready to approve the first commercial use of gene editing to treat a disease. In this case, a drug company is seeking to use the gene-editing tool CRISPR to treat sickle cell disease, an inherited blood disorder. “It’s extraordinary to think that we’re on the verge of an approval of the first CRISPR therapy,” Jennifer Doudna, a CRISPR codiscoverer, tells NPR. In an Issues interview, Doudna expands on what she sees as CRISPR’s “vast potential” in health care. She also stresses that policymakers, researchers, ethicists, and the public must cooperate to ensure that the revolutionary technology is used in a safe and responsible manner.

Posted by Tom Burroughs