Though the company didn’t identify or provide details about the patient, clinical trial records suggest the study enrolled 4- to 8-year-old boys
In a statement Wednesday, the treatment’s developer, Shanghai-based HuidaGene Therapeutics, attributed the Aug 2025 death to acute respiratory distress syndrome as part of a severe immune reaction to the therapy. Though the company didn’t identify or provide details about the patient, clinical trial records suggest the study enrolled 4- to 8-year-old boys. A patient with Duchenne muscular dystrophy died after receiving a gene-editing therapy in China, sparking new concerns about regulatory oversight and transparency as China seeks to cement its position as a biotechnology leader.
The announcement also comes weeks after Science revealed the previously unreported death of a girl in a separate investigator-initiated trial, a type of study led by researchers rather than pharmaceutical companies. Chinese authorities have since launched probes. HuidaGene’s disclosure follows a months-long probe by STAT News. The firm did not respond to questions on next steps for the therapy.