-
Notifications
You must be signed in to change notification settings - Fork 0
/
Copy paths24-lidforss-crispr.html
690 lines (686 loc) · 36.1 KB
/
s24-lidforss-crispr.html
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<title>S24LidforssCRISPR - Streamline</title>
<meta
name="description"
content="Streamline - The Rivers School's STEM Magazine & Outreach Club"
/>
<meta property="og:title" content="S24LidforssCRISPR - Streamline" />
<meta
property="og:description"
content="Streamline - The Rivers School's STEM Magazine & Outreach Club"
/>
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
<meta charset="utf-8" />
<meta property="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" />
<style data-tag="reset-style-sheet">
html { line-height: 1.15;}body { margin: 0;}* { box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0; border-style: solid;}p,li,ul,pre,div,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6,figure,blockquote,figcaption { margin: 0; padding: 0;}button { background-color: transparent;}button,input,optgroup,select,textarea { font-family: inherit; font-size: 100%; line-height: 1.15; margin: 0;}button,select { text-transform: none;}button,[type="button"],[type="reset"],[type="submit"] { -webkit-appearance: button;}button::-moz-focus-inner,[type="button"]::-moz-focus-inner,[type="reset"]::-moz-focus-inner,[type="submit"]::-moz-focus-inner { border-style: none; padding: 0;}button:-moz-focus,[type="button"]:-moz-focus,[type="reset"]:-moz-focus,[type="submit"]:-moz-focus { outline: 1px dotted ButtonText;}a { color: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;}input { padding: 2px 4px;}img { display: block;}html { scroll-behavior: smooth }
</style>
<style data-tag="default-style-sheet">
html {
font-family: Inter;
font-size: 16px;
}
body {
font-weight: 400;
font-style:normal;
text-decoration: none;
text-transform: none;
letter-spacing: normal;
line-height: 1.15;
color: var(--dl-color-gray-black);
background-color: var(--dl-color-gray-white);
null
}
</style>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://unpkg.com/[email protected]/animate.css"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Poppins:ital,wght@0,100;0,200;0,300;0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;0,800;0,900;1,100;1,200;1,300;1,400;1,500;1,600;1,700;1,800;1,900&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Lora:ital,wght@0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;1,400;1,500;1,600;1,700&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Lora:ital,wght@0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;1,400;1,500;1,600;1,700&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=PT+Sans:ital,wght@0,400;0,700;1,400;1,700&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Oxygen:wght@300;400;700&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Work+Sans:ital,wght@0,100;0,200;0,300;0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;0,800;0,900;1,100;1,200;1,300;1,400;1,500;1,600;1,700;1,800;1,900&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Lora:ital,wght@0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;1,400;1,500;1,600;1,700&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Lora:ital,wght@0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;1,400;1,500;1,600;1,700&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Lora:ital,wght@0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;1,400;1,500;1,600;1,700&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Lora:ital,wght@0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;1,400;1,500;1,600;1,700&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Poppins:ital,wght@0,100;0,200;0,300;0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;0,800;0,900;1,100;1,200;1,300;1,400;1,500;1,600;1,700;1,800;1,900&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Lora:ital,wght@0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;1,400;1,500;1,600;1,700&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Open+Sans:ital,wght@0,300;0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;0,800;1,300;1,400;1,500;1,600;1,700;1,800&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Poppins:ital,wght@0,100;0,200;0,300;0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;0,800;0,900;1,100;1,200;1,300;1,400;1,500;1,600;1,700;1,800;1,900&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Plus+Jakarta+Sans:ital,wght@0,200;0,300;0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;0,800;1,200;1,300;1,400;1,500;1,600;1,700;1,800&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Plus+Jakarta+Sans:ital,wght@0,200;0,300;0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;0,800;1,200;1,300;1,400;1,500;1,600;1,700;1,800&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Spectral:ital,wght@0,200;0,300;0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;0,800;1,200;1,300;1,400;1,500;1,600;1,700;1,800&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Roboto:ital,wght@0,100;0,300;0,400;0,500;0,700;0,900;1,100;1,300;1,400;1,500;1,700;1,900&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Fira+Sans:ital,wght@0,100;0,200;0,300;0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;0,800;0,900;1,100;1,200;1,300;1,400;1,500;1,600;1,700;1,800;1,900&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Lora:ital,wght@0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;1,400;1,500;1,600;1,700&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Exo+2:ital,wght@0,100;0,200;0,300;0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;0,800;0,900;1,100;1,200;1,300;1,400;1,500;1,600;1,700;1,800;1,900&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Poppins:ital,wght@0,100;0,200;0,300;0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;0,800;0,900;1,100;1,200;1,300;1,400;1,500;1,600;1,700;1,800;1,900&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Source+Sans+3:ital,wght@0,200;0,300;0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;0,800;0,900;1,200;1,300;1,400;1,500;1,600;1,700;1,800;1,900&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Poppins:ital,wght@0,100;0,200;0,300;0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;0,800;0,900;1,100;1,200;1,300;1,400;1,500;1,600;1,700;1,800;1,900&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Noto+Sans:ital,wght@0,100;0,200;0,300;0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;0,800;0,900;1,100;1,200;1,300;1,400;1,500;1,600;1,700;1,800;1,900&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Lora:ital,wght@0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;1,400;1,500;1,600;1,700&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Plus+Jakarta+Sans:ital,wght@0,200;0,300;0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;0,800;1,200;1,300;1,400;1,500;1,600;1,700;1,800&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Poppins:ital,wght@0,100;0,200;0,300;0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;0,800;0,900;1,100;1,200;1,300;1,400;1,500;1,600;1,700;1,800;1,900&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Lora:ital,wght@0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;1,400;1,500;1,600;1,700&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Inter:wght@100;200;300;400;500;600;700;800;900&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Poppins:ital,wght@0,100;0,200;0,300;0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;0,800;0,900;1,100;1,200;1,300;1,400;1,500;1,600;1,700;1,800;1,900&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Lora:ital,wght@0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;1,400;1,500;1,600;1,700&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Lora:ital,wght@0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;1,400;1,500;1,600;1,700&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Lora:ital,wght@0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;1,400;1,500;1,600;1,700&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Poppins:ital,wght@0,100;0,200;0,300;0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;0,800;0,900;1,100;1,200;1,300;1,400;1,500;1,600;1,700;1,800;1,900&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Lora:ital,wght@0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;1,400;1,500;1,600;1,700&display=swap"
data-tag="font"
/>
<link
rel="stylesheet"
href="https://unpkg.com/@teleporthq/teleport-custom-scripts/dist/style.css"
/>
</head>
<body>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="./style.css" />
<div>
<link href="./s24-lidforss-crispr.css" rel="stylesheet" />
<div class="s24-lidforss-crispr-container">
<div class="s24-lidforss-crispr-content">
<div class="s24-lidforss-crispr-nav-bar">
<img
alt="Rectangle1I145"
src="public/external/rectangle1i145-k1uq-200h.png"
class="s24-lidforss-crispr-rectangle1"
/>
<div class="s24-lidforss-crispr-group1">
<img
alt="Ellipse1I145"
src="public/Streamline/logo_1-600w.png"
class="s24-lidforss-crispr-ellipse1"
/>
<span class="s24-lidforss-crispr-text">
The Rivers Streamline
</span>
</div>
<div class="s24-lidforss-crispr-group3">
<a href="index.html" class="s24-lidforss-crispr-text001">Home</a>
<span class="s24-lidforss-crispr-text002">About</span>
<a
href="https://www.instagram.com/rivers.streamline/"
target="_blank"
rel="noreferrer noopener"
class="s24-lidforss-crispr-text003"
>
<span>Instagram</span>
<br />
<br />
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="s24-lidforss-crispr-content1">
<div class="s24-lidforss-crispr-main-content">
<div class="s24-lidforss-crispr-content2">
<div class="s24-lidforss-crispr-oarticle">
<div class="s24-lidforss-crispr-blog-info">
<div class="s24-lidforss-crispr-heading">
<span class="s24-lidforss-crispr-text007">
An Exploration of CRISPR in Sickle Cell Disease
Treatment
</span>
</div>
<div class="s24-lidforss-crispr-short-info">
<div class="s24-lidforss-crispr-aauthor">
<img
alt="ImageI2101"
src="public/external/imagei2101-pano-200h.png"
class="s24-lidforss-crispr-image"
/>
<span class="s24-lidforss-crispr-text008">
Nicole Lidforss '25
</span>
</div>
<span class="s24-lidforss-crispr-text009">
Spring 2024
</span>
</div>
</div>
<img
alt="Image2101"
src="https://www.iberdrola.com/documents/20125/1527375/CRISPR-726x484.jpg/46cb36ee-b5e4-9ef6-47b1-2094abac7909?t=1642007315492"
loading="lazy"
class="s24-lidforss-crispr-image1"
/>
<div class="s24-lidforss-crispr-para"></div>
<span class="s24-lidforss-crispr-text010">Introduction</span>
<div class="s24-lidforss-crispr-para1">
<span class="s24-lidforss-crispr-text011">
<span class="AMainArticleText">
Sickle cell disease is a group of inherited blood
disorders affecting approximately 100,000 people in the
U.S. It is most common in African Americans, but also
disproportionately affects Hispanic Americans. The
primary problem in sickle cell disease is a mutation in
hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that transports
oxygen to the body’s tissues. This mutation causes red
blood cells to appear in a “sickle” shape. These mutated
red blood cells restrict blood flow in vessels and limit
oxygen delivery to the body’s tissues, leading to severe
pain and organ damage called vaso-occlusive events
(VOEs) or vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs). The recurrence
of these crises can lead to life-threatening
disabilities and/or early death.
</span>
<br class="AMainArticleText" />
<span class="AMainArticleText"></span>
<br class="s24-lidforss-crispr-text015" />
<span class="AMainArticleText">
A relatively new technology that research scientists use
to selectively modify the DNA of living organisms,
CRISPR, has just been implemented into sickle cell
treatment. CRISPR was adapted for use in the laboratory
from naturally occurring genome editing systems found in
bacteria. On December 8, 2023, the first ever CRISPR
gene therapy treatments were approved by the FDA for use
in patients over the age of 12. There are so many
potential benefits such as reducing the need for
frequent and time consuming hospital visits, reducing
pain, and improving overall quality of life. Nicole
Verdun, M.D., director of the Office of Therapeutic
Products within the FDA’s Center for Biologics
Evaluation and Research writes, “Gene therapy holds the
promise of delivering more targeted and effective
treatments, especially for individuals with rare
diseases where the current treatment options are
limited”. With that being said, as the use of Cas9 in
treatment is so new, there is so much we do not know
about it. It is extremely important to take the many
potential risks into account. Accordingly, this
controversial topic leads to the question, is it ethical
to use CRISPR as a treatment for sickle cell disease,
and what exactly is at stake?
</span>
<br class="AMainArticleText" />
</span>
</div>
<img
alt="Image2101"
src="https://www.froedtert.com/sites/default/files/upload/images/services/sickle-cell/sickle-cell-blood-cells.jpg"
loading="lazy"
class="s24-lidforss-crispr-image2"
/>
<span class="s24-lidforss-crispr-text018">
<span>Sickle Cell Treatment Today</span>
<br />
</span>
<span class="s24-lidforss-crispr-text021">
<span class="AMainArticleText">
The most common treatment of sickle cell today is blood
transfusions. When anemia, a low blood cell count, is
severe, conditions including splenic sequestration, acute
chest syndrome, and aplastic crisis are life threatening
if not treated with blood transfusions. These transfusions
increase the number of normal red blood cells in the body,
increasing the supply of oxygen to the body.
</span>
<br class="s24-lidforss-crispr-text023" />
<br class="AMainArticleText" />
<span class="AMainArticleText">
An argument for CRISPR in sickle cell disease treatment
are the benefits of eliminating downsides of today’s most
common treatments, such as blood transfusions. While blood
transfusions can help reduce the frequency and severity of
sickle cell-related complications, they do not completely
eliminate the symptoms. Alloimmunization, the development
of antibodies against transfused blood, transmission of
infectious diseases such as hepatitis or HIV, and allergic
reactions can occur as a result of repeated transfusions.
Also, finding compatible blood for transfusions can be
challenging and may require extensive screening and
matching procedures.
</span>
<br class="AMainArticleText" />
</span>
<span class="s24-lidforss-crispr-text027">
Current CRISPR Therapies
</span>
<span class="s24-lidforss-crispr-text028 AMainArticleText">
<span class="AMainArticleText">
At this point, two gene therapies involving the use of
Cas9 for treating sickle cell disease have been approved
by the FDA for patients 12 years of age and older with
recurring vaso-occlusive crises, Casgevy (also called
exa-cel) and Lyfgenia. Casgevy is a cell-based gene
therapy created by the companies Vertex and CRISPR
Therapeutics. The treatment involves mobilizing a
patient's own bone marrow stem cells from the blood. The
stem cells are edited at a specific region of the BCL11A
gene which prevents the production of fetal hemoglobin
(HbF), a type of hemoglobin that facilitates oxygen
delivery. In patients with SCD, increased levels of HbF
prevent the sickling of red blood cells. The reduction of
BCL11A gene transcription in the patient’s RNA leads to an
increase of HbF production, thus providing functioning
hemoglobin. The modified blood stem cells are transplanted
back into the patient where they attach and multiply
within the bone marrow. The second approved treatment,
Lyfgenia, is similar to Casgevy, but is not as common. The
patient’s blood stem cells are genetically altered to
produce HbAT87Q, a gene-therapy extracted hemoglobin that
works similarly to hemoglobin A, which is the normal adult
hemoglobin. Red blood cells containing HbAT87Q have a
lower risk of sickling and blocking blood flow. These
modified stem cells are then transplanted into the
patient. “These approvals represent an important medical
advance with the use of innovative cell-based gene
therapies to target potentially devastating diseases and
improve public health,” writes Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D.,
director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and
Research.
</span>
<br class="AMainArticleText" />
</span>
<img
alt="Image2101"
src="https://pwonlyias.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Untitled-560-scaled.webp"
class="s24-lidforss-crispr-image3"
/>
<span class="s24-lidforss-crispr-text031">
<span>Ethical considerations: Justice</span>
<br />
</span>
<div class="s24-lidforss-crispr-para2">
<span class="s24-lidforss-crispr-text034 AMainArticleText">
<span class="AMainArticleText">
The medical field has a long history of racism, and it
is important to consider that the majority of the people
affected by this disease and would be receiving CRISPR
treatment are black. Throughout the Jim Crow era in the
United States, segregation extended to healthcare
facilities, with black individuals often relegated to
substandard and underfunded hospitals and clinics. They
received inferior medical care compared to their white
counterparts, leading to stark disparities in health
outcomes. While overt forms of medical racism have
diminished over time, systemic biases and disparities
persist in healthcare systems worldwide. The use of
CRISPR in sickle cell disease treatment has the
possibility of doing immense good for a group that has
historically been neglected in the medical world.
However, if these gene therapies were to not go as
planned, this mistreated minority will be further
punished by the medical industry. Keeping these facts in
mind while considering the expansion of CRISPR SCD
treatment is crucial to the making of related major
decisions and guidelines.
</span>
<br class="AMainArticleText" />
</span>
<span class="s24-lidforss-crispr-text037">
<span>Ethical considerations: Accessibility</span>
<br />
</span>
<span class="s24-lidforss-crispr-text040">
<span class="AMainArticleText">
Cost is a large topic of discussion as various sickle
cell expenses accumulate to be devastatingly costly.
SCD-related lifetime medical costs (blood transfusions
and included inpatient care) were estimated at almost
1.7 million dollars. While the majority of this cost is
covered by insurance, the disease and its implications
are very time consuming. Most people have to come in to
receive a blood transfusion once or even twice a month.
These hospital visits are inconvenient and often get in
the way of one’s day.
</span>
<br class="s24-lidforss-crispr-text042" />
<br class="AMainArticleText" />
<span class="AMainArticleText">
With that being said, one of the most critical issues
about these novel CRISPR treatments is their current
cost. Like most gene editing therapies, exa-cel and
lovo-cell are likely to be very expensive. Estimates
suggest that the price for each could be as much as $2
million per patient. Arafa Salim, who has used her own
experience with sickle cell to build Tanzania’s first
patient advocacy organization claimed, “A new therapy
can be extremely effective, even a cure for sickle cell,
but if it’s not made accessible to the average patient,
it won’t be used.” Additionally, insurance companies are
often motivated by a utilitarian ethic of providing the
most good to the most people and could potentially deny
especially expensive treatments that are deemed
“experimental” and “not medically necessary,” meaning
patients will have to pay out of pocket for these
treatments, which is just not possible for most. As more
CRISPR treatments and genetic modification are released,
it is conceivable that only the wealthy will have access
to this technology as far as we know. However, a
one-time gene editing treatment has the potential to
alleviate some of the long-term costs, including the
cost of treatment, travel, and lost time or productivity
for treatment. Furthermore if companies eventually get
the cost of genetic therapies down and gene therapies
become “standard of care”, perhaps health insurance will
begin to cover CRISPR treatments. However, as of today,
these therapies will not be covered by insurance for a
long time as companies tend to wait as long as possible
before covering a treatment, especially the more
expensive ones.
</span>
<br class="AMainArticleText" />
</span>
</div>
<div class="s24-lidforss-crispr-quote">
<span
class="s24-lidforss-crispr-text046 ArticlequoteRegular"
>
<span>
"As a society, we must determine if the beneficence
outweighs the maleficence this new technology may cause.
This development uncovers an entirely new chapter of the
future of the medical field."
</span>
<br class="ArticlequoteRegular" />
</span>
</div>
<span class="s24-lidforss-crispr-text049">
<span>Conclusions and Recommendations</span>
<br />
</span>
<span class="s24-lidforss-crispr-text052">
<span class="AMainArticleText">
Given the previous discussion, the question of whether it
is ethical to use CRISPR in sickle cell treatments is
vastly controversial, and has seemingly unlimited
arguments for and against it. As a society, we must
determine if the beneficence outweighs the maleficence
this new technology may cause. This development uncovers
an entirely new chapter of the future of the medical
field.
</span>
<br class="s24-lidforss-crispr-text054" />
<br class="AMainArticleText" />
<span class="AMainArticleText">
In order for the use of gene editing therapies to be
ethical, there must be specific, strict policies from the
federal government. First off, the government should
prioritize equity considerations in determining access,
specifically cost-wise. Individuals who cannot pay for,
whose insurance does not cover these treatments, or do not
live near a facility that provides CRISPR therapies should
be accordingly supported. Patients must also be thoroughly
informed of potential side effects that may occur from
treatment. Informed consent for individuals who are not
literate, do not speak the language spoken in the country
they are in, and are differently abled should be
adequately adapted to provide clear and fair communication
of the potential risks and benefits of such treatments.
And finally, there must be extensive and strict
regulations to CRISPR technology in medical facilities to
ensure no person or group handling these treatments goes
beyond the societally decided limits. Finally, as a
society we must come together and have intensive ethical
discussions before further advancing CRISPR in medicine.
Under these circumstances, CRISPR in medicine should and
will be used to treat genetic diseases such as sickle cell
disease to advance the future of humanity.
</span>
<br class="s24-lidforss-crispr-text057" />
<br class="AMainArticleText" />
</span>
</div>
<div class="s24-lidforss-crispr-oconclusion">
<div class="s24-lidforss-crispr-para3">
<span class="s24-lidforss-crispr-text059">Sources:</span>
<span class="s24-lidforss-crispr-link">
<span>
Office of the Commissioner. “FDA Approves First Gene
Therapies to Treat Patients with Sickle Cell Disease.”
FDA, 8 Dec. 2023,
www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-gene-therapies-treat-patients-sickle-cell-disease#:~:text=Casgevy%2C%20a%20cell%2Dbased%20gene.
Accessed 6 Jan. 2024.
</span>
<br />
<br />
<span>
Smith, Mike. 2023. “CRISPR.” Genome.gov. 2023.
https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/CRISPR.
</span>
<br />
<br />
<span>
Peebles, Angelica. 2023. “U.S. Approves First
Gene-Editing Treatment, Casgevy, for Sickle Cell
Disease.” CNBC. December 8, 2023.
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/08/casgevy-first-crispr-gene-editing-treatment-approved-in-us.html.
</span>
<br />
<br />
<span>
Uddin, Fathema, et al. “CRISPR Gene Therapy:
Applications, Limitations, and Implications for the
Future.” Frontiers in Oncology, vol. 10, no. 1387, 7
Aug. 2020, https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2020.01387.
</span>
<br />
<br />
<span>
Neidler, Sarah. 2020. “Blood Transfusion - Sickle Cell
Disease News.” Sickle Cell Disease News. March 5, 2020.
https://sicklecellanemianews.com/blood-transfusion/#:~:text=Simple%20transfusions%20are%20typically%20given
</span>
<br />
<br />
<span>
Pagliarulo, Ned, and Shaun Lucas. “What If a CRISPR Cure
Isn’t Such an Easy Choice?” BioPharma Dive, 8 Nov. 2023,
www.biopharmadive.com/news/sickle-cell-crispr-gene-editing-vertex-exa-cel-barriers/698121/.
Accessed 13 Jan. 2024.
</span>
<br />
<br />
<span>
Reardon, Sara. 2023. “FDA Approves First CRISPR Gene
Editing Treatment for Sickle Cell Disease.” Scientific
American. December 28, 2023.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fda-approves-first-crispr-gene-editing-treatment-for-sickle-cell-disease/#:~:text=Like%20most%20gene%20editing%20therapies.
</span>
<br />
<span></span>
<br />
</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="footer" class="s24-lidforss-crispr-footer">
<div class="s24-lidforss-crispr-contents">
<span class="s24-lidforss-crispr-text082">
<span class="s24-lidforss-crispr-text083">Contact Us</span>
<br />
</span>
<span class="s24-lidforss-crispr-text085">
<br />
<span>Co-founders:</span>
<br />
<span>Chelsea Yan: [email protected]</span>
<br />
<span>Joyce Do: [email protected]</span>
<br />
<br />
<span>Faculty Advisor:</span>
<br />
<span>Stewart Pierson: [email protected]</span>
</span>
</div>
<div class="s24-lidforss-crispr-contents1">
<span class="s24-lidforss-crispr-text097">
<span class="s24-lidforss-crispr-text098">About</span>
<br />
</span>
<span class="s24-lidforss-crispr-text100">
<br />
<span>
This website showcases the original written work of members of
Streamline. Streamline is a
</span>
<br />
<span>student-run magazine and club at The Rivers School.</span>
<br />
</span>
</div>
<img
alt="image"
src="public/Streamline/logo_1-600w.png"
class="s24-lidforss-crispr-image4"
/>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>