Infectious disease gene therapy clinical trials

Table 5 Infectious disease phase I and II ongoing gene therapy clinical trials as of February 1, 2001...

The major target indications of biopharmaceuticals currently undergoing clinical trials include cancer, cardiovascular, and infectious diseases, the major killers within the developed world. Although in excess of 30 nucleic acid-based drugs are currently being evaluated for gene therapy, vaccines, and other applications, the majority remain in the early stages of clinical development (phase I/II) [11]. 

Target diseases in most clinical gene therapy trials have been cancer, cardiovascular diseases, infectious diseases such as AIDS or monogeneic congenital disorders. The vectors most frequently used ex vivo are MLV vectors derived from MLV, whereas vectors derived from adenovirus. 

The statistics of clinical trials are available for various diseases under gene therapy and it is not surprising that most of these efforts (64%) are dedicated to cure cancer, the most threatening disease affecting the world. Efforts are also dedicated to cardiovascular diseases, monogenic and infectious diseases. 

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