Gene Editing for Sickle Cell Anemia

Scientists have been able to take a cell from the skin and program it all the way back to an embryonic cell. There was actually an FDA approved study for cardiovascular surgery in newborn babies that have a congenital heart defect where they actually repair the heart with these embryonic programmed cells. There's vectors that can carry gene sequences into somebody's genes and alter expression of certain genes. Recently, an FDA approval for a drug that is actually a gene editing drug to edit people who have sickle cell anemia. It gives them a basically a fetal hemoglobin so they can survive a longer period of time. There was a genetic engineered treatment approved in November 2019 for a certain rare form of leukemia. These children get it at a young age and they die from it. This is a one time medication that can reverse that condition.