Medical regulators in the UK have approved a gene-editing treatment involving bone marrow stem cells designed to cure two blood diseases, including sickle cell disease, in what is a world first.

The therapy, called Casgevy, has been given the green light by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to treat sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia, two painful blood conditions. [1]

Amongst the most promising advancements in the field of regenerative medicine is the development of stem cell therapies. As undifferentiated cells, stem cells have the power to develop into specialised cells that can be used to repair and replace damaged tissues.