PENNSYLVANIA : New Gene Therapy Targets Arthritis
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
A gene therapy treatment for arthritis, developed at the University of Pittsburgh and being tested on humans for the first time, is the first aimed at treating a nonfatal illness, said Christopher Evans, one of the study’s principal investigators. Doctors now treat arthritis with drugs, surgery and artificial joints, but no cure exists. Dr. James Herndon, an orthopedic surgeon, said the therapy could lead to a cure. Evans said he hopes the therapy will be generally available within five years.
