United KingdomTwo children in China died as a result of gene-editing trials, raising concerns about regulatory oversight and ethical standards in the country's biomedical sector. A Shanghai-based gene-editing company, HuidaGene Therapeutics, reported the death of a young boy during a trial in 2025, while an investigation by Science and Retraction Watch revealed the death of a six-year-old girl in March 2024 after receiving a different experimental therapy. The girl's trial was led by neuroscientist Zilong Qiu at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and clinician Yongguo Yu at Xinhua Hospital. The university launched an investigation into the trial and a related preclinical study published in Nature. Researchers and ethicists argue that the trials involved ethical breaches and lack of transparency, potentially damaging the credibility of Chinese scientific institutions. The cases highlight issues with China's fast-track clinical trials, known as investigator-initiated trials (IITs), which allow rapid testing without direct oversight from the national drug regulator. Experts suggest that regulations for gene-therapy trials may be tightened in response to these deaths, possibly leading to restrictions on
Bias read (Center): The article presents a balanced account of the controversy surrounding the gene-editing trials, citing multiple perspectives including those of researchers, ethicists, and legal scholars. It does not overtly favor any particular political stance but highlights the potential implications for China's铋
