A Swiss biotech company says it has found a "game-changer" in the treatment of a rare and devastating genetic disorder affecting children.
The company, called Tx, is working on a device that would allow cells from a patient's own body to be injected into a patient's brain, reports the Globe and Mail.
The goal is to change the brain's ability to communicate with the outside world.
Currently, there is no approved treatment for the disorder, called Kodyukodystrophy, in which patients lose the ability to see, hear, or speak.
The device would allow cells from a patient's own immune system to be injected into the brain, where they would be able to communicate with the outside world.
It's believed to be the first time a gene therapy treatment has been developed to treat a disorder like Kodyukodystrophy, reports the New York Times, which describes the disease as a progressive loss of the brain's ability to communicate with the rest of the body.
Previously, the only treatment for the disorder was a bone marrow transplant.
Thomas Mehrling, the new CEO of Tx, has more than 25 years of biotech experience, including time at Mundipharma International, where he was in charge of the development of
A customized collection of grant news from foundations and the federal government from around the Web.
Mashable is teaming up with Google+ for its first-ever Hangout-a-thon on Dec. 3 for Giving Tuesday. The Hangout-a-thon is a phoneathon for the connected generation of the 21st century, which features 12 hours of captivating guests sharing updates on some of the most disruptive nonprofits working today.