Tragedy in Shanghai gene-editing trial prompts retraction calls

An exclusive investigation shows a one-patient Shanghai trial using a brain-targeted base editor ended in the death of a 6-year-old girl from a severe immune reaction; her family paid more than $800,000 to fund the therapy, and the trial’s funding and patient details were not publicly disclosed, even as the related Nature paper glossed over them. Experts call for a full data review and potential retraction amid concerns about oversight and safety.