Thousands of Mouse Lives Saved By New Gene Therapy Safety Testing System
Research backed by the NC3R’s programme to develop methods of reducing testing on animals for medical products and financed by Novartis and GSK has resulted in a testing breakthrough for Gene Therapy Vectors.
Historically the effects of vectors on mice are studied when trying to establish the safety or otherwise of gene therapies.
What is Gene Therapy?
Gene therapy is the new frontier of medicine and can literally have transformative life changing effects on patients. For example, halting or even reversing degenerative blindness. But, ensuring patient safety is paramount. Gene therapy works by repairing or replacing faulty genes with modified healthy genes inside cells. Basically replacing bad DNA with good DNA and it works by using viruses, called vectors, to deliver the treatment.
However some people’s cells react badly to the introduction of some vectors and use of these vectors can cause cancer
New Safety Testing System
Brunel University, London’s spin-out company Testavec Limited has developed a testing system that tests the effect of the viruses on human cells in the laboratory rather than inside animals.
Backed by more than £1million of research investment this novel, patent applied for process, speeds up testing, costs less than previous methods, and enables researchers to have feedback on the effect of their proposed treatments in about 1/3 time of current methods- and of course, it will save countless tens of thousands of animal lives.
The Testavec hingetox safety assay enables treatment developers to receive warnings that there is potential toxicity in their proposed vectors long before they go on to clinical trials in humans. It means that if cells show an adverse reaction then the vector can be redesigned or changed and then retested.
Among other things the hingetox system measures the ability of cells to repair their DNA when " invaded" by a vector Pictures here show one rogue vector prevents DNA repair - the team developing the vector / gene thereapy can then use this information to redesign their treatment at an early stage - possibly saving millions of pounds.
Over 350 companies worldwide are now involved in developing new gene therapies. It is a true new frontier of medical science.
For further information visit : www.testavec.com or contact Professor Susan Jobling or Robert Spencer
CEO Testavec Susan.jobling@testavec.com or call 07881 360800
Chairman Testavec Robert.spencer@testavec.com or call 0776 4184401