SHANGHAI: Recently, gene therapy was performed on hearing impaired children in China, as a result of which the hearing of the children was miraculously restored.
According to media reports, specific gene therapy was tested in Shanghai on 5 children who were completely deaf. Hearing recovery was observed in both ears of all children after gene therapy. Additionally, the therapy also improved the children’s speech ability.
Two children also demonstrated the ability to respond to music, including dancing to music. This case has been reported in the journal ‘Nature Medicine’. Co-senior researcher Zheng Yichen said in the news release that the results of these therapies are surprising.
A mutant virus containing a functional copy of the OTOF gene was injected into the inner ear of the children. For this the virus was hollowed out. This virus was responsible for transferring gene copies to the inner ear.
The babies were treated at Fudan University I&ENT Hospital in Shanghai and observed for 13 to 26 weeks.
