Despite the setbacks successes have been achieved. Of the 18 SCID patients treated for their life threatening condition, 17 are still alive and have had a healthy, functioning immune system for up to five years and a good quality of life. In addition to monogenic conditions, gene therapy also represents a viable treatment for multigenic disorders, such as cancer, either as a standalone treatment or in combination with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. A huge amount of work is yet to be done, but with efficient monitoring of trials and continuous improvements of viral vectors, gene therapy may still represent an important addition to the treatment armamentarium for a range of diseases.
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