When I began to study in the Pharmacy School, I had read
about gene therapy. The world began to know the news about the results of the
Human Genome Project, and it was announced centuries of new pharmacological
discoveries.
Gene therapy is an experimental technique that uses genes to treat or prevent
disease. In the future, this technique may allow doctors to treat a disorder by
inserting a gene into a patient’s cells instead of using drugs or surgery.
Researchers are testing several approaches to gene therapy, including:
· 1 . Inactivating, or “knocking out,” a mutated gene
that is functioning improperly.
· 2. Introducing a new gene into the body to help
fight a disease.
3 3. Replacing a mutated gene that causes disease with a healthy copy of the gene.
Although gene therapy is a promising treatment option for a
number of diseases (including inherited disorders, some types of cancer, and
certain viral infections), the technique remains risky and is still under study
to make sure that it will be safe and effective.
So, the future pharmacist have here a big matter to study. I really think this
is the future of new kind of personalized medicine, and we can see soon big
discoveries about treatment of, until now, incurable deseases.