UK toddler has hearing restored in world first gene therapy trial

Source: theguardian

Incident Overview:

• Opal Sandy, a British toddler, became the first person to undergo a successful gene therapy trial for auditory neuropathy
• Born unable to hear, Opal received a working copy of the OTOF gene via gene therapy, restoring her hearing almost perfectly
• The groundbreaking surgery took just 16 minutes at Addenbrooke’s hospital, part of Cambridge university hospitals NHS foundation trust
• The Chord trial aims to recruit more deaf children from the UK, Spain, and the US to assess the long-term effectiveness of the therapy over five years
• The therapy involves using a harmless virus to deliver the working gene into the ear, potentially curing patients with this type of deafness
• The successful results of Opal’s treatment and another child’s positive outcomes highlight the potential of gene therapy in revolutionizing deafness treatment
• This trial is seen as the beginning of a new era in gene therapies for deafness, offering hope and possibilities for children with genetic hearing impairments

The successful gene therapy trial that restored Opal Sandy’s hearing marks a significant breakthrough in the treatment of auditory neuropathy and offers hope for individuals with genetic hearing impairments. The positive outcomes of the Chord trial highlight the potential of gene therapy in revolutionizing deafness treatment and signify the beginning of a new era in the field. This pioneering research opens up possibilities for a brighter future for children with genetic hearing conditions, providing renewed hope and optimism for families and individuals affected by deafness.

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Source of image: ThisDay