What is the role of gene editing technology in HFMD treatment?

The hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) treatment market is mostly concentrated in East and Southeast Asia, offering a distinct geographical focus for investors and businesses interested in this sector. From 2010 to 2021, the annual incidence rate fluctuated between 98.81 cases per 100,000 in 2020 and 435.63 cases per 100,000 in 2018. In addition to this, according to the research report of Astute Analytica, the global hand, foot, and mouth disease treatment market is growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.1% during the forecast period from 2024 to 2032.
Also, historically, China has been the center of the largest potential market due to the regular occurrence of HFMD, often witnessing millions of cases annually during prominent outbreaks. Neighboring countries like Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, and Japan further highlight the significance of the Asia-Pacific region for this market. Several factors are propelling the demand in the hand, foot, and mouth disease treatment market. Among the top are the unique population dynamics of the affected countries. High population densities connected with a large percentage of children under the age of five create a continuously susceptible demographic.
Also, the current lack of a universally accepted vaccine in widespread usage has left a significant portion of the population exposed to the disease, highlighting an immense market opportunity. This gap in the market becomes even more apparent during sporadic outbreaks, which consistently push the demand for both treatment and preventive measures.
The role of gene editing technology in hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) treatment is: -
• Scientists from Singapore utilized gene editing to eliminate the virus that causes hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). The study shows gene editing's potential to deliver cures for other diseases.
• Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a typical illness in children that is also encountered by some adults. Its usual symptoms consist of blisters, fever, and rashes. However, it can cause more severe complications like inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) or death. At the moment, there is no clinically supported treatment for EV-A71, the virus causing HFMD.
• To help with this issue, researchers from the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) and the National University of Singapore's Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine) used adeno-associated viruses to produce the CRISPR-Cas13 editor to clear the EV-A71 infection in mice. The CRISPR-Cas13 cut the mRNA and enteroviral RNA genome into pieces, thus destroying the viruses.
• About less than 0.1% of the EV-A71 viruses remained in the previously infected cells, thus bypassing organ damage and mortality. The technology can be utilized to treat ongoing infections and prevent future ones.
• Importantly, the Crispr-Cas13 technology targets any form of RNA, and because RNA is a foundational building block of life, Crispr-Cas13 could be utilized against a broad spectrum of diseases ranging from viral infections to cancers, and genetic illnesses.
• Crispr-Cas13 therapeutics could redefine how diseases and viruses are treated, adding this could result in faster relief and lasting cures for patients. However, further clinical research and development are required to bring such treatments to patients efficaciously and safely.

 

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