Will Advances in Genetic Medicine Lessen the Need for Germline Modifications?

The cell and gene therapy/gene editing industry sits at the intersection of scientific research, technology development, regulation, ethics, and society. Hence, the biotechnology industry has a role in ensuring the inclusion of ethical considerations, diverse stakeholders, and assessments of medical progress, necessity, and realistic timelines for technological feasibility. The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine has sought to facilitate this role, fostering continued discussions of the scientific, ethical, and governance difficulties surrounding heritable human genome editing (HHGE), particularly in light of enormous advances in somatic gene therapies. The need for HHGE to address rare diseases is significantly diminished by the development of alternative approaches. Thoughtful deliberation about HHGE that takes into account the expertise and experience of the biotechnology industry is essential-as are guardrails to prevent unwarranted and irresponsible approaches to HHGE.