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Dr. Layne McDonald
Creativity with purpose.


Health: Hope for the Youngest: FDA Approves First Gene Therapy for Children with Sickle Cell Disease
In a moment of genuine good news, the FDA has approved Casgevy — the first gene therapy for children as young as two years old living with sickle cell disease. The treatment uses a child's own stem cells, edited to correct the underlying genetic cause of the disease, delivered as a one-time intravenous infusion. In clinical trials involving children aged 5 to 11, eight of nine patients who could be evaluated achieved 12 full months without needing a blood transfusion. For fam
Dr. Layne McDonald
Jul 81 min read


News: FDA Approves Gene Therapy for Children with Sickle Cell Disease : A Medical Milestone
In a major medical breakthrough, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Casgevy, the first gene therapy for children as young as two years old living with sickle cell disease. The one-time intravenous infusion uses the patient's own stem cells to address the root cause of the disorder, offering the possibility of long-term relief from a condition that affects millions worldwide. Clinical data from patients aged 5 to 11 showed transfusion independence for 12 months
Dr. Layne McDonald
Jul 81 min read


Health: Louisiana Man Becomes First in State Functionally Cured of Sickle Cell Disease Through Gene Therapy
Immediate Answer: A 23-year-old New Orleans man, Daniel Cressy, has become the first person in Louisiana to be functionally cured of sickle cell disease through gene therapy at Manning Family Children's Hospital. By using his own edited stem cells to stop the production of defective blood cells, doctors have successfully deactivated the disease in his system, marking a historic medical milestone for the state. What Happened: For the first time in Louisiana’s history, a patien
Dr. Layne McDonald
Jun 243 min read
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