U.S. regulators are expected to approve exa-cel for use in sickle cell patients by the end of this week. The U.K. approved it under the brand name Casgevy last month.
Regulators in the U.S. are also reviewing another gene therapy from Bluebird Bio called lovo-cel. It works differently than exa-cel but is administered similarly and is also intended to eliminate pain crises. It’s expected to be approved later this month.
Approval of exa-cel by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration would mark a scientific milestone about a decade after the discovery of CRISPR and a breakthrough for patients desperate for a better option.
Read more on what is happening here.
Related reading:
Gene Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease Approved in UK. What Could this Mean for US?
New Advancements Could Make Cure for Sickle Cell Disease a Reality