Luxturna Gene Therapyapproved, KL Rahul's Bat Average Woes

In a breakthrough medical advancement, the US FDA has approved Luxturna, the world's first gene therapy for an inherited disease, aimed at combating blindness caused by Leber congenital amaurosis. Meanwhile, KL Rahul's struggles to convert starts into substantial scores continue to pester the Indian cricket team.

KL Rahul, India's opening batsman, has often flattered to deceive with his starts, never quite able to maximize his potential. His away Test average of 24.54, and a string of 15 instances where he's converted starts into scores between 20-40, points to a worrying trend that may trouble team selectors. The 32-year-old's unconverted starts are a concern, despite his average of 34.26. His underwhelming performances in crucial situations, such as the Adelaide Test against Australia, highlight an alarming pattern.

In a stark contrast, the news of FDA approving Luxturna, a gene therapy for inherited retinal disease, offers hope for those suffering from blindness. The therapy targets Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) caused by mutations of the RPE65 gene. Luxturna comprises a modified virus engineered to carry a healthy copy of the RPE65 gene to retinal cells, enabling them to function correctly. The clinical trials yielded uplifting results, with a 40% response rate in vision improvement, including better navigation and reading abilities.

Eligibility for the treatment is restricted to patients aged 4 and above with LCA due to RPE65 gene mutations. Researchers reassured that while a small fraction of patients may respond due to unrelated reasons, Luxturna's efficacy is not compromised. As the medical world celebrates this medical milestone, cricket fans continue to awaits a change in KL Rahul's fortunes.

As India gears up for their next Test series, KL Rahul's batting worries will remain a premise for debate. On the heals of this, while Indians intend to get more fretful about their first gene therapy, directed towards an hereditary condition, driven by research protocols institutionalised of affiliations with Spark Therapeutics, a growing producing force behind the cure.