The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Gene therapy as a cure for diseases

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 06, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Gene therapy as a cure for diseases

HYDERABAD: “Gene therapy using artificial or synthetic viruses has the potential to cure many serious infectious and other diseases, including cancer.”

Andrew D. Miller, Director, Genetic Therapies Centre (GTC), Imperial College, London, told reporters here on Sunday after speaking on ‘Whither synthetic non-viral vectors in gene therapy’ as part of the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) Foundation Day.

He pointed out that gene therapy was basically about effective delivery of a nucleic acid to cells. Lack of good virus-based vectors was hampering efficacy of the therapy and more than 1,000 clinical trials so far “have not gone well.”

Promising results

Prof. Miller said work done by the GTC using synthetic non-viral vectors to combat Hepatitis B had shown promising results. The pre-clinical trials would be started in South Africa next year. Similarly, work was on to tackle ovarian and cervical cancers.

Pre-clinical trials

The pre-clinical trials would be conducted by 2008-end.

A big pharma company would be involved in the manufacture after the successful completion of the third phase of trials for Hepatitis B.

Partnerships

Prof. Miller, who is the driving force behind the newly-created foundation for Global Biomedical Solutions, said it would forge partnerships between laboratories in developing and developed countries for adopting a novel approach to treat diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, HIV and Hepatitis B. Earlier, he gave away team and individual awards to scientists and staff of the IICT.

J.S. Yadav, IICT director, presented a report on its activities.

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