It is encouraging that genetic treatment studies are tested in Türkiye
Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced that the Scientific Committee is planning for the gene therapy that patients diagnosed with SMA need and that the treatment will be implemented soon. Stating that this news excites them very much as researchers who have been researching, developing and trying to produce genetic treatment studies domestically for a long time, Asst. Prof. Cihan Taştan said that "The fact that genetic treatment studies, especially in SMA disease, will start to be tested in Türkiye is encouraging in terms of the development and application of rapid and long-term treatments.".
Promising in the long term for our country and those affected by rare diseases
Üsküdar University Transgenic Cell Technologies and Epigenetics Application and Research Center (TRGENMER) has been conducting research on the genetic treatment of rare diseases for many years. Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics Asst. Prof. Cihan Taştan evaluated the statements of Health Minister Fahrettin Koca regarding the rare diseases hospital to be established in Istanbul and SMA gene therapy plans.
Dr. Taştan: "It is encouraging that genetic treatment studies are being tested in Türkiye"
Assessing the statement made by the Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca that the Scientific Committee is planning for the gene therapy needed by patients diagnosed with SMA and that the treatment will be implemented soon, Asst. Prof. Cihan Taştan said that "The statement made by our Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca has excited our research team, which has been researching, developing and trying to produce genetic treatment studies locally for a long time. The fact that genetic treatment studies will be started to be tested in Türkiye within a certain disease group, especially in SMA disease, is encouraging in terms of the development and application of rapid and long-term treatments for our country and our patients.".
Dr. Taştan: "I think that the efficacy studies of SMA gene therapy should be done at the molecular level"
Stating that there are certain criteria, especially during the implementation of SMA gene therapy trials, Taştan said that: "We believe that our SMA Scientific Board will effectively make accurate evaluations in patients who meet these criteria. I have been working on SMA gene therapies research and development for over 2 years. I think that studies of the efficacy of SMA gene therapy depending on the order of administration and time should also be done at the molecular level. I believe that for the success of the genetic treatment trial, the patient should be investigated with a focus on the genetic therapy product and also the evaluation of the cell phenotype at the molecular level.".
"We are ready to support it gladly..."
Stating that they will gladly support the efficacy quality control and characterization studies at the molecular level in the SMA gene therapies trials, which will be carried out for the first time in Türkiye, in the Scientific Committee and in the centers where the trials will be held, Asst. Prof. Cihan Taştan also touched upon another good news given by Minister Fahrettin Koca.
Stating that it is pleasing that a hospital to be established only on rare diseases is planned, Taştan completed his remarks as follows:
"The fact that genetic therapy medications will also be developed in this hospital has made us, as scientists, who have been planning and dreaming about this for a long time, very happy. As a scientist engaged in genetic therapy studies, I am a researcher who has repeatedly announced on social media that there should be a rare disease clinical gene therapy research development and application hospital. I believe that this good news is promising and value-added in the long term for our country and for millions of people affected by rare diseases.".