Gene therapy may warrant long-term follow-up of research subjects due to the risk of delayed adverse events. The FDA cites potential risks of adverse outcomes following exposure to human gene therapy products that are summarized as follows1:
“Integration activity” of the gene therapy product: Raises the potential for disruption of critical host genes that could result in malignancies.
Genome editing activity: Genome editing-based products impart their biological activity through site-specific changes in the human genome, but may also have off-target affects that raise the risk of malignancies and impaired gene function.
Prolonged expression: A gene therapy product where the therapeutic gene encodes growth factors, raising the potential for unregulated cell growth and malignancies.
Latency: A gene therapy product using, for example, a herpesvirus, has the potential for reactivation from latency, raising the risk of delayed adverse events related to a symptomatic infection.
Establishment of persistent infections: Gene therapy products that are replication-competent viruses and bacteria, such as listeria-based bacterial vectors, have the potential to cause persistent infections in immunocompromised patients.
REFERENCE
1. FDA. Long-Term Follow-Up After Administration of Human Gene Therapy Products. Draft Guidance for Industry. July 2018. Available at: https://bit.ly/2O4C3VE
Gene therapy may warrant long-term follow-up of research subjects due to the risk of delayed adverse events.
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