Cells turned to living drugs By:Thalia Wallace

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/18/health/immunotherapy-cancer-kite.html?action=Click&contentCollection=BreakingNews&contentID=65969593&pgtype=collection
                                                  (SUMMARY):
On Wednesday, the FDA approved the second of new age and class treatments that genetically reboot a patient’s own immune cells to kill cancerous cells.

The new therapy, "Yescarta", made by Kite Pharma, was approved for adults with severe and aggressive forms of a blood cancer,and who have undergone two regimens of chemotherapy that failed.The treatment is  a form of gene therapy that transforms the patient’s cells into what researchers call a “living drug” that attacks cancerous cells. It is part of the rapidly growing field of "immunotherapy", which uses drugs or genetic tinkering to "buff up" the immune system to fight disease.“The results are pretty remarkable,” said Dr. Frederick L. Locke a specialist in blood cancers at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, and a leader of a study of the new treatment. “We’re excited. We think there are many patients who may need this therapy.”He added, “These patients don’t have any other options.”The typical average is about 3,500 people a year in the United States that may be fortunate enough for the Yescarta treatment. It is meant to be given only once, infused into a vein, and must be manufactured individually for each patient. The cost will be roughly $373,000.


(FEEDBACK): I think that this is a wonderful idea i just wish it weren't so expensive its also a little concerning because i don't we as Americans are fully aware of the negative side effects of getting this type of treatment.