montymatzinn t1_j0xpwc2 wrote on December 20, 2022 at 4:37 AM

Reply to comment by pillspaythebills in Gene therapy gel heals decades-old wounds in trial for blistering skin disease. Researchers find that a gel tested in patients with a life-threatening blistering skin disease helps wounds heal. The gel — the first topical gene therapy — awaits FDA approval. by Zee2A

If you don't mind answering questions, could I ask how the gel introduces the gene? How does that take place? Sorry if this is a really simple question!

pillspaythebills t1_j0z6gfc wrote on December 20, 2022 at 2:37 PM

Good question! The crux of gene therapy is getting the missing gene delivered to the right place in the body to ensure it gets integrated into the patient’s DNA, so gene expression can occur. Most gene therapy treatments leverage a modified virus to deliver the gene. For this particular treatment, the researchers are using a modified herpes simplex virus to introduce the gene to the skin cells.