Posted by Al Gordon on July 03, 2003 at 23:17:21:
In Reply to: Another 10 yr. Type 1 CURE! posted by DWK on July 03, 2003 at 18:20:47:
And what will we have after 10 years if (and that is a very big "if") everything works out perfectly? We will have islets, the same cells we can now get from pigs in unlimited quantities, and whose insulin has proved its efficacy and safety for over 80 years in humans. The only difference will be that we will have wasted another 10 years and will have diverted millions of dollars from therapies that have a far greater chance of success.
Actually, make that at least 20 years because I believe any gene therapy involving a viral vector will take longer for FDA approval than anything we have ever seen. The track record for unintended consequences from gene therapy has not been very encouraging.
This is all about "elegant" science, and little to do with curing diabetes.
I would love to be corrected.
Al