leisure time

BALTIMORE — Gene and cell therapies have transformed a handful of devastating disorders in the U.S. and Europe, with more treatments on the way. But those technologies have largely failed to reach most of the world.

These lags are ubiquitous in the current drug development system, where new therapies are approved in wealthy countries and then slowly leak out to low- and middle-income countries, many years later. In the case of gene therapy, that means countries most affected by a disease such as sickle cell may wait decades to access a curative therapy.

advertisement

For the last few years, a handful of researchers in the U.S. and around the world have tried to find ways of ensuring global access to these technologies. In 2020, they formed the Global Gene Therapy Initiative, with an initial goal of setting up a gene therapy clinical trial for a hemoglobinopathy — such as a disease like sickle cell or beta thalassemia — or HIV in two different low- and middle-income countries by 2024.

STAT+ Exclusive Story

Already have an account? Log in

This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers

Unlock this article — plus daily coverage and analysis of the biotech sector — by subscribing to STAT+.

Already have an account? Log in

Already have an account? Log in

Monthly

$39

Totals $468 per year

Totals $468 per year

Starter

$30

for 3 months, then $39/month

Then $39/month

Annual

$399

Save 15%

Save 15%

11+ Users

Custom

Savings start at 25%!

Savings start at 25%!

2-10 Users

$300

Annually per user

$300 Annually per user

Get unlimited access to award-winning journalism and exclusive events.