WHO ISSUES NEW RECOMMENDATIONS ON HUMAN GENOME EDITING

Two new companion reports released today by the World Health Organization (WHO) provide the first global recommendations to help establish human genome editing as a tool for public health, with an emphasis on safety, effectiveness and ethics.

The document, prepared by the group of 18 WHO experts that was established in 2018, provide advice and recommendations on appropriate institutional, national, regional and global governance mechanisms for human genome editing.

According to WHO recommendations, the COVID-19 pandemic has clearly demonstrated the importance of using new tools and methods to combat serious diseases and highlighted the potential benefits of human genome editing research. WHO also reminds us of the need to develop technology carefully, with robust testing and quality assurance measures in place to maximize benefit and minimize harm.

The new reports result from the first broad, global consultation looking at human genome editing. The consultation, which spanned over two years, involved hundreds of participants representing diverse perspectives from around the world, including scientists and researchers, patient groups, faith leaders and indigenous peoples.

“Human genome editing has the potential to advance our ability to treat and cure disease, but the full impact will only be realized if we deploy it for the benefit of all people, instead of fueling more health inequity between and within countries,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

Potential benefits of human genome editing include faster and more accurate diagnosis, more targeted treatments and prevention of genetic disorders. Somatic gene therapies, which involve modifying a patient’s DNA to treat or cure a disease, have been successfully used to address HIV, sickle-cell disease and transthyretin amyloidosis.

The technique could also vastly improve treatment for a variety of cancers. However, some risks exist, for example, with germline and heritable human genome editing, which alter the genome of human embryos and could be passed on to subsequent generations, modifying descendants’ traits.

“These new reports from WHO’s Expert Advisory Committee represent a leap forward for this area of rapidly emerging science,” said WHO’s Chief Scientist, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan. “As global research delves deeper into the human genome, we must minimize risks and leverage ways that science can drive better health for everyone, everywhere.”

In the near future, WHO will convene a small expert committee to consider next steps to better monitor clinical trials using human genome editing technologies of concern, as well as to convene multisector stakeholders to develop an accessible mechanism for confidential reporting of concerns about possibly illegal, unregistered, unethical and unsafe human genome editing research and other activities.

Janmamed GULAMOV

WHO issues new recommendations on human genome editing (turkmenistan.gov.tm)