Miracle gene therapy that has given Oliver a new life

Three-year-old stuns medics

- BY CHRIS RICHES

Oliver receives stem cell infusion in the UK earlier this year. Right, recovering in hospital after he had cells removed last year

A BOY of three has stunned the medical world as the first person to recover from a rare disease after receiving groundbreaking gene therapy devised by British medics.

Oliver Chu was born with Hunter syndrome which causes progressive damage to the body and brain.

Also known as MPSII, it is similar to a type of childhood dementia and some patients die before the age of 20.

But in a world first, medical staff at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital have halted the disease by altering Oliver's cells using gene therapy.

The US youngster, who was unable to produce an enzyme crucial for keeping cells healthy, was the first of five boys from around the world to receive the treatment in February.

Thrilled Professor Simon Jones, who is co-leading the Manchester trial, said: "I’ve been waiting 20 years to see a boy like Ollie doing as well as he is and it's just so exciting."

TALKING

Prof Jones, who Oliver calls Santa due to his white beard, added: "Before the transplant Ollie didn’t make any enzymes at all and now he’s making hundreds of times the normal amount.

"More importantly, we can see he’s improving, he’s learning, he’s got new words and new skills and he’s moving around much more easily."