Discussion Forums > Working Towards a Cure
Bluebird Bio Releases Data on Current Gene Therapy Trials
catchR:
Thanks Andy for making it so easy to understand, we can easily lost on the technicalities.
Hope you have started to feel better!
jay:
one more, What causes infertility? does it? Why it is suggested to save reproductive cells?
Sharmin:
Bluebird bio is due to present this weekend. The stock price has skyrocketed. This success is so so great to see. We're are blessed that thalassemia is the disease being cured by this therapy. So many other ailments wait. I hope that this will be a huge success and such treatments can be extended to help others.
Jay, the chemotherapy which is used to suppress and ablate the marrow (which is done both to suppress the immune system so that the corrected cells will be accepted and to make room for the corrected marrow to settle in to the patient's body) can also cause damage to reproductive cells. There is a risk of infertility with this dose of busulfan (the chemotherapy drug utlitized for this procedure). Storing reproductive cells prior to the treatment can ensure that the patient can have children if the patient becomes infertile after treatment.
I hope my answer is helpful,
Sharmin
Andy Battaglia:
I do have a call coming up with Bluebird in the first half of May. We're getting far along enough in the trials where we should have a very good idea of what to expect in terms of both results and quality of life post trial. The next report should also have a follow up on the sickle cell patient. I'm optimistic.
Parin:
Thanks Andy for sharing the details.
I'm too optimistic.
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