20 July 2012 Last updated at 11:11 ET By James Gallagher Health and science reporter, BBC News <\/p>\n
Europe is on the cusp of approving a gene therapy for the first time, in what would be a landmark moment for the field. <\/p>\n
Gene therapies alter a patient's DNA to treat inherited diseases passed from parent to child. <\/p>\n
The European Medicines Agency has recommended a therapy for a rare genetic disease which leaves people unable to properly digest fats. <\/p>\n
The European Commission will now make the final decision. <\/p>\n
The idea of gene therapy is simple: if there is a problem with part of a patient's genetic code then replace that part of the code. <\/p>\n
The reality has not been so easy. In one gene therapy trial a US teenager, Jesse Gelsinger, died, and other patients have developed leukaemia. <\/p>\n
There are no gene therapies available outside of a research lab in Europe or the US. <\/p>\n
The European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has considered the use of Glybera to treat lipoprotein lipase deficiency. <\/p>\n
One in a million people have the deficiency. They have damaged copies of a gene which is essential for breaking down fat. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Europe nears gene therapy first<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 20 July 2012 Last updated at 11:11 ET By James Gallagher Health and science reporter, BBC News Europe is on the cusp of approving a gene therapy for the first time, in what would be a landmark moment for the field. Gene therapies alter a patient's DNA to treat inherited diseases passed from parent to child Continue reading