In June 2026, patients in South Africa received their first dose of Lenacapavir, an HIV prevention drug that was approved in the EU, Canada and the U.S. in 2022.
              Per-Anders Pettersson/Getty Images News via Getty Images

At the beginning of July 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first gene therapy for young children with sickle cell disease.

While this is good news for children in the U.S. born with this illness, the FDA’s approval may also benefit thousands of children beyond the U.S. border.

Originally published on theconversation.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.