New sickle cell gene therapies are a breakthrough, but solving how to pay their high prices is a struggle

[ad_1] The approval of two gene therapies to treat sickle cell disease has given hope to patients who suffer from the debilitating disease, which overwhelmingly affects Black people and people of color. Health officials now face a challenge in finding a way to provide equitable access to the costly treatments. The crippling episodes of pain…

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Investors see a biotech comeback in 2024 as rates fall, deal-making picks up. Stocks to watch

[ad_1] Many biotech stocks struggled in 2023 despite a robust year for U.S. drug approvals. As these new therapies begin treating patients, some investors see better times ahead next year. “We’ve seen a lot of innovation,” Dan Lyons, portfolio manager on the health-care team at Janus Henderson, said, explaining that he is bullish on 2024…

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U.S. approves first gene-editing treatment, Casgevy, for sickle cell disease

[ad_1] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved the country’s first gene-editing treatment, Casgevy, for use in patients with sickle cell disease. The approval comes about a decade after the discovery of CRISPR technology for editing human DNA, representing a significant scientific advancement. Yet reaching the tens of thousands of people who could…

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