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"If the U.S. withdraws from the WHO, it would severely weaken global health initiatives, disrupt pandemic preparedness efforts, and diminish U.S. influence over international health policy."

"If the United States is no longer a member of WHO, Americans around the world would be more susceptible to disease, but they could also carry it back to the United States and infect multitudes."

"It means we are going to see a lot more disease outbreaks become regional and global, and we will see more disease outbreaks from other countries coming into the U.S."

"The bottom line is that withdrawing from the WHO makes Americans and the world less safe."

"Public health disasters that don't have to happen will happen, because those capacities aren't there anymore [because of the US withdrawal from the WHO]."

"President Trump's decision to withdraw from the WHO could have life-threatening consequences for people in the humanitarian contexts where we work as well as in the US."

Will the US Withdrawal from the WHO Affect Public Health?

Jean Bennett, Albert Maguire and Katherine High were awarded the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for developing Luxturna, the first FDA-approved gene therapy for inherited retinal disease. The $3 million prize was presented at a ceremony in Los Angeles on Saturday.

Jean Bennett, Albert Maguire and Katherine High were awarded the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for developing Luxturna, the first FDA-approved gene therapy for inherited retinal disease. The $3 million prize was presented at a ceremony in Los Angeles on Saturday.

Luxturna treats Leber congenital amaurosis, a genetic disorder caused by mutations in the RPE65 gene that typically leads to total blindness by early adulthood. The therapy delivers a functional copy of the gene into retinal cells using an adeno-associated virus.

Luxturna treats Leber congenital amaurosis, a genetic disorder caused by mutations in the RPE65 gene that typically leads to total blindness by early adulthood. The therapy delivers a functional copy of the gene into retinal cells using an adeno-associated virus.

Bennett and Maguire successfully demonstrated the therapy in dogs with RPE65 mutations before advancing to human trials. The couple adopted two of the treated dogs, named Venus and Mercury, during the research process.

Bennett and Maguire successfully demonstrated the therapy in dogs with RPE65 mutations before advancing to human trials. The couple adopted two of the treated dogs, named Venus and Mercury, during the research process.

Luxturna received FDA approval in 2017 and is priced at $850,000, making it among the most expensive gene therapies in the world. The therapy is currently available in the U.S., Canada, Australia and Switzerland.

Luxturna received FDA approval in 2017 and is priced at $850,000, making it among the most expensive gene therapies in the world. The therapy is currently available in the U.S., Canada, Australia and Switzerland.

A separate Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences was awarded to Swee Lay Thein and Stuart Orkin for research that led to Casgevy, the first CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing therapy, approved for sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia.

A separate Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences was awarded to Swee Lay Thein and Stuart Orkin for research that led to Casgevy, the first CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing therapy, approved for sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia.

Thein identified BCL11A as a gene that regulates fetal hemoglobin production in adults, a finding later used by Orkin's team to develop an approach that disables the gene, prompting cells to produce healthy fetal hemoglobin in place of defective adult hemoglobin.

Thein identified BCL11A as a gene that regulates fetal hemoglobin production in adults, a finding later used by Orkin's team to develop an approach that disables the gene, prompting cells to produce healthy fetal hemoglobin in place of defective adult hemoglobin.

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Jean Bennett, Albert Maguire and Katherine High were awarded the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for developing Luxturna, the first FDA-approved gene therapy for inherited retinal disease. The $3 million prize was presented at a ceremony in Los Angeles.

Jean Bennett, Albert Maguire and Katherine High were awarded the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for developing Luxturna, the first FDA-approved gene therapy for inherited retinal disease. The $3 million prize was presented at a ceremony in Los Angeles.

Gene therapy's promise is being strangled by broken economics and political neglect. Per-patient costs can run into seven figures, and companies like Prime Medicine are already halting work on successful treatments because the business model doesn't hold up. Only a publicly funded health system treating gene therapy like dialysis or transplants — a collective service, not a market commodity — can turn lab breakthroughs into medicine for everyone.

Gene therapy's promise is being strangled by broken economics and political neglect. Per-patient costs can run into seven figures, and companies like Prime Medicine are already halting work on successful treatments because the business model doesn't hold up. Only a publicly funded health system treating gene therapy like dialysis or transplants — a collective service, not a market commodity — can turn lab breakthroughs into medicine for everyone.

Nicolas Hulscher

Gene therapy is entering its most transformative era yet, with AI-designed proteins, precise CRISPR editing and approved treatments for retinal disorders, spinal muscular atrophy and blood cancers proving the science works. Viral and non-viral delivery systems keep improving in safety and efficiency, expanding the range of treatable diseases fast. Market-driven biotech innovation is accelerating cures at a pace no government program could match.

Gene therapy is entering its most transformative era yet, with AI-designed proteins, precise CRISPR editing and approved treatments for retinal disorders, spinal muscular atrophy and blood cancers proving the science works. Viral and non-viral delivery systems keep improving in safety and efficiency, expanding the range of treatable diseases fast. Market-driven biotech innovation is accelerating cures at a pace no government program could match.

Mgoes

There is a 25% chance the U.S., U.K. or E.U. will approve a gene editing therapy for a new condition during 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There is a 25% chance the U.S., U.K. or E.U. will approve a gene editing therapy for a new condition during 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

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Gene Therapy Pioneers Win $3 Million Breakthrough Prize

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Gene Therapy Pioneers Win $3 Million Breakthrough Prize

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Gene Therapy Pioneers Win $3 Million Breakthrough Prize

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Gene Therapy Pioneers Win $3 Million Breakthrough Prize

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