Special Report: How lipid nanoparticles became the future of gene therapy

A new generation of lipid nanoparticles could enable the use of gene editing to treat common ailments such as heart disease or Alzheimer's. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

Sponsored by     From burst bubble to medical marvel: How lipid nanoparticles became the future of gene therapy By Megan Molteni Liposomes (in purple and yellow) were early forerunners to the more dense lipid nanoparticles (yellow sphere). (ADOBE) Scientists are creating a new generation of lipid nanoparticles able to chart paths to new and harder-to-reach topographies — the heart, the lungs, the brain, even the bone marrow. With these capabilities come the possibility of using gene editing to treat common ailments such as heart disease or Alzheimer’s. If they’re successful, it will represent a full-circle moment for the field. To understand why, we have to go back to the beginning — to a lab built in the belly of a former military barracks and the meringue-whipping hematologist who called it home. Read More Sponsor content by Amgen Understanding severe asthma and the role of TSLP Rates of asthma in the U.S. are expected to grow 10% by 2039 and there is a critical need to understand the pathophysiology of this complex disease. Researchers have identified an epithelial cytokine called thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), which sits at the top of the inflammatory cascade and acts as an alarmin for the immune system. Learn more about the role of TSLP in severe asthma. More great reads from STAT this week The ‘five pandemics’ driving 1 million U.S. Covid deaths By J. Emory Parker Dr. Oz peddles medical misinformation — but could his political rise have a silver lining for public health? By Lev Facher In radical claim, study suggests inflammation wards off chronic pain instead of causing it By Jason Mast Transfusion of brain fluid from young mice is a memory-elevating elixir for old animals By Megan Molteni Opinion: The faces of Covid By Alex Goldstein Telehealth aims to crack open Paxlovid’s prescription bottleneck By Katie Palmer The FDA eased rules for mental health apps during the pandemic. Now companies are bracing for it to tighten the reins By Mario Aguilar Firearm deaths and disparities both grew in pandemic’s first year By Elizabeth Cooney The panel was supposed to improve efficiency at the NIH. It hasn’t even met for 7 years By Lev Facher Opinion: The man behind ‘value-based pricing’ saw pharma distorting his message — and walked away By Billy Kenber Saturday, May 14, 2022       1 Exchange Pl, Suite 201, Boston, MA 02109 ©2022, All Rights Reserved. I no longer wish to receive STAT emails Update Email Preferences | Contact Us | View In Browser