Health economics specialist Martin Morgenstern stated in an interview that genetic editing will transform medical treatments in the coming decades. According to him, technologies like CRISPR will allow altering specific genes to combat conditions like high cholesterol. This approach promises to be more precise than traditional medications, though it carries inherent risks.
In an interview with Canal E, Martin Morgenstern, an expert in health economics, highlighted the revolutionary potential of genetic editing in medicine. He explained that this technology, particularly CRISPR, will open new pathways for managing chronic conditions by modifying specific genes and altering biological processes previously considered inevitable.
A recent example comes from the Cleveland Cardiovascular Institute, where scientists found that the natural inactivation of the ANGPTL3 gene prevents the development of high cholesterol and triglyceride levels throughout life. By reproducing this mutation through genetic editing, researchers achieved an immediate 50% reduction in cholesterol levels. Morgenstern noted that, unlike current treatments such as statins, which cause adverse effects and require chronic use, genetic editing provides more precise interventions with less reliance on ongoing drugs.
"The future of medicine is genetic editing; magic pills cease to be the destiny," emphasized the specialist. He also mentioned successful cases of terminal cancer patients who completely eliminated the disease through experimental genetic editing therapies. However, he warned of the risks of unforeseen effects if not performed with precision.
Morgenstern addressed tensions between public research and the pharmaceutical industry, which prioritizes patentable compounds over personalized genetic innovations. He highlighted ethical dilemmas in patenting biological elements, such as human genes, and urged countries to invest in academic science to distinguish real advances from marketing.
