Gene therapy for blistering skin disease appears to enhance healing in clinical trial

A trial in which genetically altered skin was grafted onto patients’ chronic wounds marks the first time that skin-based gene therapy has been demonstrated to be safe and effective in humans.

NOV 12016

Man in a T-shirt with bandages on both arms

Paul Martinez was a participant in Stanford’s clinical trial for epidermolysis bullosa patients.
Max Aguilera-Hellweg

Grafting sheets of a patient’s genetically corrected skin onto open wounds caused by the blistering skin disease epidermolysis bullosa appears to be well-tolerated and improves wound healing, according to a phase-1 clinical trial conducted by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

The results mark the first time that skin-based gene therapy has been demonstrated to be