China’s Genome Treatment Investments Are Winning the Game

Primary clinical trials of CRISPR genome treatment among people are about to be introduced. On the other hand, there are a handful of countries that have already tried the technology and undoubtedly, China is on the list too. China genome treatment is winning the game. The gene-altering technique has already been given a chance in the country and has changed the DNAs of dozens of residents in different clinical tests.

As per the Wall Street Journal, at least 86 people have successfully benefited from China genome treatment and there is confirmation of CRISPR being used by at least 11 Chinese clinical trials. The journal found that one of these CRISPR trials started just a year earlier than what was initially reported. This implies that the first Chinese genome treatment based on CRISPR trials was first conducted in 2015.

The credit for China’s quick advancement goes to its own willingness to bristle ahead using cutting-edge research and technology regardless of the unknown safety concerns, and relaxed regulations in the country.

A research paper once said that CRISPR could activate an immune response in a low of patients and result in probable treatments that are either unproductive or unsafe. But despite this, China went ahead with its genome treatment. This quickness and willingness has naturally resulted in a biomedical contest between the U.S. and China, and ignited concerns among some Western scientists regarding the safety concerns.

As reported by the WSJ journal, 36 patients that were suffering from different cancers including lung cancer, kidney cancer, throat cancer, and liver cancer had their cells removes and replaced into the body in the China genome treatment’s 2015 CRISPR trial. This was done to fight cancer but there is more evidence revealing the use of CRISPR for other problems like HIV, esophageal cancer, and leukemia. This year, the trial will have 16 patients registered for the same.

In the meantime, the US is planning to conduct the first CRISPR-based trial with a total of 18 patients at the University of Pennsylvania. This is primarily meant to see whether or not CRISPR is a safe choice.

In addition to China’s genome treatment investments form the government, the US government is also putting in resources to make the treatment successful. Both the governments are in fact investing hastily and heavily to achieve the desired results.

During the last year when Obama announced an investment of $215 million to facilitate 1 million Americans, China finalized its genome treatment investments which made for a far bigger and costlier plan.