U.S. Company to Test Gene Therapy for AIDS

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1993. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

U.S. Company to Test Gene Therapy for AIDS

Reuters (10/22/93)

Seattle--Targeted Genetics Corp. has begun a trial of a new AIDS treatment using genetically modified white blood cells that recognize and attack cells with the AIDS virus. The Phase I tests will determine the safety of the experimental treatment on 15 patients with HIV. Targeted Genetics will work with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in the study. During the tests, scientists will extract blood from patients, and white cells that have developed the ability to fight cells infected with HIV will be prompted to grow and multiply in cell cultures. Following this procedure, the scientists will insert a genetically altered virus, known as HyTK, which will place two genes into the cells. One gene, known as a marker gene, will permit scientists to determine which cells have the double gene. The second gene, known as a suicide gene, will force the cells to produce an enzyme found in a herpes virus, causing HIV-infected cells to become vulnerable to drugs that kill herpes viruses. If the altered cells begin to harm patients, the scientists can use the second gene to stop the process.

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