China’s thalassaemia jab raises hope for common inherited blood disorder

Thalassaemia is the most common genetic blood disorder in the world. China currently has 30 million thalassaemia gene carriers, while the global total reaches 350 million. Severe thalassaemia patients could confront a stark reality: regular blood transfusions, potential organ transplants, even the risk of premature death. If two carriers of the gene marry, their children have a 25 per cent chance of developing the disease. China’s latest original therapy, which integrates gene editing and ste...

By Shi Huang