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Viruses as a force for good

Excitement about viral-vector gene therapies is growing. Biotech companies have learned to modify adenoviruses (and others) into drug-delivery vehicles to introduce specific DNA sequences—encoding genes, regulatory RNAs, or other therapeutic substrates—into cells. More than 100 such assets were in clinical trials in late 2020, many developed by small- and midsize biotech companies and academic labs supported by venture capital. Big pharmaceutical companies are moving quickly to acquire them.

Strong investment in viral-vector gene therapies reflects high levels of excitement about the technology.
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To read the article, see “Gene-therapy innovation: Unlocking the promise of viral vectors,” May 17, 2021.