Gene Therapy Brings Hope to Children with Congenital Deafness

 

    In a recent article written in U.S. News and World Report, Dennis Thompson describes a recent medical trial conducted on 6 children with congenital deafness in China. In this trial researchers hollowed out a virus and loaded it with the gene that produces otoferlin then injected it into the inner ear. Otoferlin is a protein responsible for transmitting sound signals from the inner ear to the brain. 5 of the 6 patients. This bolsters the results of a similar study done at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

    This gene therapy has no major side effects. However, although this treatment is effective for children with congenital deafness caused by otoferlin mutation, it is not effective at treating congenital deafness caused by other factors.

    I think that this article is important because it describes the possibility to cure children of a life changing condition with little to no side effects. I would've like to know more about the feasibility of this treatment as a widespread technique as well as the costs involved.