Gene Therapy Success reported in Hamburg Germany Univ Med Center

[bimazek]

this seems like a great success to me... if i was on a failing regiment seems like breakthrough to me
anyone in hamburg or flying there that can call or check this out....

Mol Ther. 2007 Mar 13; [Epub ahead of print]Click here to read  Links
    Transfer of Autologous Gene-modified T Cells in HIV-infected Patients with Advanced Immunodeficiency and Drug-resistant Virus.       
   Infectious Diseases Unit, University Medical Center Hamburg-, Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany .

    Drug toxicity and viral resistance limit the long-term efficacy of antiviral drug treatment for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Thus, alternative therapies need to be explored. We tested the infusion of T lymphocytes transduced with a retroviral vector (M87o) that expresses an HIV entry-inhibitory peptide (maC46). Gene-modified autologous T cells were infused into ten HIV-infected patients with advanced disease and multidrug-resistant virus during anti-retroviral combination therapy. T-cell infusions were tolerated well, with no severe side effects. A significant increase of CD4 counts was observed after infusion. At the end of the 1-year follow-up, the CD4 counts of all patients were still around or above baseline. Gene-modified cells could be detected in peripheral blood, lymph nodes, and bone marrow throughout the 1-year follow-up, and marking levels correlated with the cell dose. No significant changes of viral load were observed during the first 4 months. Four of the seven patients who changed their antiviral drug regimen thereafter responded with a significant decline in plasma viral load. In conclusion, the transfer of gene-modified cells was safe, led to sustained levels of gene marking, and may improve immune competence in HIV-infected patients with advanced disease and multidrug-resistant virus.Molecular Therapy (2007)


doi:10.1038/mt.sj.6300124.* Lunzen JV,      * Glaunsinger T,      * Stahmer I,
        * Baehr VV,
        * Baum C,
        * Schilz A,
        * Kuehlcke K,
        * Naundorf S,
        * Martinius H,
        * Hermann F,
        * Giroglou T,
        * Newrzela S,
        * Muller I,
        * Brauer F,
        * Brandenburg G,
        * Alexandrov A,
        * von Laer D.