This might be the biggest advancement against Leukemia in decades. By transforming a patients very own blood cells into miniature soldiers that can destroy cancer cells, doctors have had great success in keeping their patients cancer free for years. By re-engineering the cells of a patient to seek and destroy cancer cells, doctors were successful in curing 5 adults and 19 of 22 pediatric patients suffering from acute lymphocytic leukemia. This may be the first gene therapy approved in the United States.
Penn has patented its method of engineering blood cells and licensed it to Switzerland-based Novartis AG. Novartis is building a research center on the Penn campus. They plan to undertake a clinical trial next year that could lead to federal approval of the treatment as soon as 2016
Penn has patented its method of engineering blood cells and licensed it to Switzerland-based Novartis AG. Novartis is building a research center on the Penn campus. They plan to undertake a clinical trial next year that could lead to federal approval of the treatment as soon as 2016
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