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First Personalized CRISPR Therapy Shows Early Success in Treating Rare Genetic Disorder

A bespoke gene-editing treatment for CPS1 deficiency improved an infant's metabolic function and milestones, offering hope for ultra-rare disease therapies.

Penn Medicine's Kiran Musunuru (left) and Rebecca Ahrens-Nicklas (right) visiting KJ at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Photo: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia via Penn Medicine News
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Overview

  • KJ Muldoon, diagnosed with severe CPS1 deficiency at birth, received a fully personalized CRISPR base-editing therapy tailored to his unique genetic mutation.
  • The treatment, developed and FDA-fast-tracked within six months, involved three infusions administered between February and April 2025.
  • Early results show improved protein metabolism, reduced reliance on ammonia-control medication, and developmental progress, though long-term efficacy remains under evaluation.
  • The case, detailed in the New England Journal of Medicine, demonstrates the potential of individualized gene editing for ultra-rare diseases previously lacking effective treatments.
  • Researchers emphasize the need for continued monitoring while expressing cautious optimism that this approach could serve as a model for future personalized therapies.