Health Ministry and Royal Medical Services Announce Bahrain's First CRISPR-Based Sickle Cell Treatment Success
Manama: The Ministry of Health and the Royal Medical Services held a press conference highlighting the details of the Kingdom's successful completion of the world's first sickle cell disease patient treatment outside the US using CRISPR-based bone marrow transplantation.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the press conference discussing the medical milestone was held at the Crown Prince Centre for Training and Medical Research. It was attended by Dr. Jaleela bint Al Sayed Jawad Hassan, Minister of Health; Brigadier Dr. Shaikh Fahad bin Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Commander of the Royal Medical Services; Dr. Jamila Mohammed Redha Al Salman, Shura Council member and director of the gene therapy project; and Dr. Noora Mohammed Yusuf Butti, representative of the Bahrain Oncology Centre.
The Minister of Health emphasised Bahrain's commitment to medical innovation, with strong support from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. She noted that Bahrain was among the first countries to approve CRISPR-based gene editing therapy in December 2023, becoming the first in the Middle East and the second globally, after the UK, to authorise its use for sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent thalassemia.
The Minister highlighted Bahrain's ongoing investment in advanced medical infrastructure, facilities, and technology. She noted that the nation's efforts have led to acquiring innovative genetic therapy technology that positively impacted the quality of life for hemoglobinopathy patients.
Brigadier Dr. Shaikh Fahad bin Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa highlighted the Kingdom of Bahrain's focus on world-class healthcare. He noted that in May 2024, the Bahrain Oncology Centre was accredited by Vertex Pharmaceuticals for bone marrow transplantation and cell cellular therapy. The achievement was made possible through collaboration between the ministry, Government Hospitals, the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA), and global partners, including Vertex Pharmaceuticals and CRISPR Therapeutics.
Dr. Jamila Mohammed Redha Al Salman, Shura Council member and director of the gene therapy project, highlighted that the modern technology used in the patient's treatment was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020. She explained that the treatment process involves medical evaluation, stem cell collection, genetic modification using CRISPR, and transplanting the edited cells into the patient. The therapy eliminates symptoms such as pain crises and blood clots, significantly improving quality of life for these patients.
Dr. Noora Mohammed Yusuf Butti outlined the different treatment phases the patient underwent as part of the treatment process. The first stage involved patient selection, which required comprehensive medical and psychological evaluations to ensure eligibility in line with the clinical trial results. She explained that the patient then underwent physiological conditioning of the bone marrow through blood exchange in preparation for the transplantation.
The third stage involved stem cell collection, where the patient was given medication to stimulate bone marrow production of stem cells. These cells were then collected and sent to specialised centres for genetic modification. Dr. Butti stated that after the genetic editing of the cells, the patient was admitted to the Bahrain Oncology Centre for the conditioning phase where he was administered medication to eliminate old bone marrow prior to the introduction of the genetically edited stem cells. The edited stem cells were then reintroduced into the bloodstream through the arteries, without the need for surgery.
The final stage involved the recovery of the bone marrow cells and the patient's full remission from sickle cell disease. Dr Noora emphasised that the entire treatment process, which spans several months, requires full cooperation between the patient and medical team, as well as strict adherence to medical instructions and guidelines for optimal results.
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