Teràpies avançades: present i futur

Authors

  • Jordi Barquinero Mañez

Abstract

Advanced therapies (TAs) are a series of new therapeutic modalities including those using substantially manipulated cells, gene therapy and tissue engineering, fields that have creixegrown dramatically in the last 20 years as due to a better understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of many diseases, new tools for genetic modification of cells (vectors) and advances in stem cells. TAs have many different application areas, ranging from cancer and hereditary diseases (e.g. in the case of gene therapy), musculoskeletal lesions, autoimmune, degenerative or transplants in the case of cells therapies or tissue engineering. As occurs with any treatment, TAs have risks, sometimes very dramatic, so it is reasonably necessary to ensure that potential benefits outweigh the potential risks. On the other hand, if we want that these therapies are investigated and get soon to the patients bedside, over-regulation by the responsible agencies should be avoided. Lastly, health care and media professionals must convey to the society realistic messages to avoid creating false expectations.

Published

2014-02-26