The gene therapy field is breathing a mighty sigh of relief after Targeted Genetics announced that it has received a green light to resume a clinical trial suspended after the death of a participant. The FDA made its decision after concluding that the gene-therapy study for rheumatoid arthritis did not contribute to the death of 36-year-old Jolee Mohr. A post mortem found that the experimental therapy did not spread in her body and did not greatly increase the immune suppression caused by another RA drug the patient was taking. Gene therapy has been seriously hampered in past years by unexpected trial deaths. Another safety fiasco now may well have put the research field back into slow motion.
- see the company's release
- read the report from the Seattle Times
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