Genethon, the laboratory created and funded by the AFM (French Association against Myopathies) using donations from Téléthon, today announced that it has produced, controlled and released a batch of lentiviral vectors derived from the human immunodeficiency (HIV) virus for a gene therapy trial in humans in a rare immune deficiency. The Etablissement de thérapie génique et cellulaire (ETGC – gene and cell therapy unit) at Genethon thus becomes the first organisation in Europe to have produced this type of vector in accordance with GMP (good manufacturing practice) standards. Part of the safety controls were carried out by GenoSafe, a company created by the AFM and Genethon.
Read the press release – 20/02/09 (pdf – 2 pages – 32 ko)