Monday, December 10, 2012

Reprogrammed Immune Cells Offer Powerful Tool Against Leukemia

In Girl's Last Hope, Altered Immune Cells Beat Leukemia by Denise Grady.  The New York Times.  December 9, 2012.

In an inspiring story of the successful treatment a young leukemia patient, scientists have found success in using a disabled form of H.I.V to insert new genes into T-cells programming them to attack B-cells, a part of the immune system that turns malignant in leukemia.  The method has shown success in other cases, though not all.  Cost advantages, as compared with bone marrow transplants, are significant.  The ramifications for the pharmaceutical industry could be profound.  For example, Novartis is modifying its approach to cancer drugs, focusing on unmistakable impact on a small number of patients as opposed to broad-use drugs for many.

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