GTAC (Gene Therapy Advisory Committee) reports state of UK gene therapy R&D (research and development):
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
The year 2000 saw a three-fold increase in the number of UK-based gene therapy trials, of which some are beginning to show "exciting results", says the UK's Gene Therapy Advisory Committee (GTAC) in its annual report for 2000. Over 400 patients have taken part in the 72 gene therapy trials conducted since 1992. Early results suggest a high degree of success in some of these studies, including severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), melanoma, brain tumours, prostate cancer and lymphoma. The report also includes details of all the proposals reviewed by GTAC in 2000. GTAC assesses the ethical acceptability of proposals for gene therapy research on humans, taking into account the scientific merits and potential benefits and risks to patients. It also advises government on developments in this field.