The major drawbacks of gene therapy are the building-up of an immunity against the treatment and the risk of developing other diseases, such as cancer. Treating the foetus in utero would have the advantage that the immune system is not yet able to prevent the action of the implanted genes. Besides, in some diseases like cystic fibrosis, the damage may occur before birth and such a procedure would tackle the condition before its effects become irreversible.

There are, however, some safety issues, as well as ethical concerns, and clinical trials are not scheduled to take place before proper animal research has been fully performed and proved both safe and efficient.

UK scientists believe in the future they will be curing babies in the womb of serious diseases with the use of gene therapy.

Source: BBC News