US: Test shows new gene therapy for heart disease is safe

AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-1999
US: Test shows new gene therapy for heart disease is safe

US doctors say the first human test of a gene therapy injected directly into the
oxygen-starved heart muscle has shown it to be safe -- although it may not be effective.

Doctors say this may be paving the way for promising heart-disease treatments in cases
where patients are too sick to be treated by methods like bypass surgery.

The new method has been tried as part of a study which covered 21 heart-disease patients
and showed no adverse effects through the gene or the method of administering it.

The study's main author, TODD ROSENGART of New York State's Cornell University, says in the
American Heart Association's journal CIRCULATION the implications are huge.

However, he has also warned that there isn't enough evidence yet to say anything definite
about the effectiveness of this therapy in treating heart disease.





(EDS: EMBARGOED TO 1100 AEST TUESDAY AUGUST)

AFP RTV rsm/wz/lm

KEYWORD: MED HEART (WASHINGTON)

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