27-Year-Old Patient Receiving CRISPR Gene Therapy Dies, Sparking Concern in Scientific Community

The sole participant in a trial testing a novel and contentious gene-editing medicine has passed away from undetermined circumstances.

Terry Horgan, a participant from Montour Falls in New York, joined the research in the latter part of August with the hopes of curing Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

According to Daily Mail, the 27-year-old participant was one of the first Americans to receive CRISPR treatment. CRISPR edits genes by carefully slicing DNA and then letting nature handle the repair.

A mutation in the gene required to make the protein known as dystrophin is the cause of his uncommon hereditary condition that causes muscular atrophy.

The precise reason for Horgan's death last month is yet unknown.