Aspects of Gene Therapy Products Using Current Genome-Editing Technology in Japan

The development of genome-editing technology could lead to breakthrough gene therapy. Genome editing has made it possible to easily knock out or modify a target gene, while current gene therapy using a virus vector or plasmid hampering modification with respect to gene replacement therapies. Clinical development using these genome-editing tools is progressing rapidly. However, it is also becoming clear that there is a possibility of unintended gene sequence modification or deletion, or the insertion of undesired genes, or the selection of cells with abnormalities in the cancer suppressor gene p53; these unwanted actions are not possible with current gene therapy. The Science Board of the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency of Japan has compiled a report on the expected aspects of such genome-editing technology and the risks associated with it. This article summarizes the history of that discussion and compares the key concepts with information provided by other regulatory authorities.