Entertainment
In a UK first, Pakistani doctor treats thalassaemia patients through gene therapy
LONDON: British-Pakistani paediatric consultant Dr Sher Bahadur Anjum has successfully treated two young thalassaemia patients through gene therapy, transforming their lives to complete normality — for the first time in the UK.
Dr Anjum, who specialises in haematology (blood disorders) at Newham Hospital in East London, part of Barts Health NHS Trust, led a team of carers at the Newham Hospital to treat the two young boys, now aged 11 and 13, of Bangladeshi background.
Thalassemia is a genetic condition that is most common in those who are Pakistani, Indian, and Bangladeshi. It is a blood disorder, and people with thalassemia have low iron and oxygen levels in the body. This can make them severely anaemic — tired, short of breath, and pale.
To treat their thalassemia, the two patients needed to go to the hospital for blood transfusions every month, which had a major impact on their quality of life. The only cure is a stem cell or bone marrow transplant, but this is not done very often because of the risks involved, and it can be difficult to find donors.
Thanks to an innovative new gene therapy administered by Dr Anjum and his team, working with Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), the two young boys, now aged 11 and 13, are now living healthy, happy lives without further hospital visits or regular blood transfusions.
Before getting the 4-week treatment at GOSH, Dr Anjum and the healthcare team at Newham Hospital conducted extensive pre-gene therapy care over three months, which included blood testing, vaccinations and maintaining the correct haemoglobin levels. Their care at Newham also continued long after the treatment, with monitoring, blood counts and managing the side effects.
When Dr Anjum first approached the families, they were both hesitant to start this therapy as it was new, and requires an initial longer hospital stay. However, after almost 12 months of speaking to them, listening and answering their questions and concerns, they were reassured to start the treatment for their children.
Now their lives have changed forever thanks to the treatment, and they want to encourage other South Asian parents to take up the offer if doctors find them eligible.
Dr Anjum, who originally studied in Gilglit Baltistan’s Astoria village and then Abbottabad Medical College (AMC) told Geo News: “Gene therapy is a new treatment that aims to fix the problem at its root. Doctors take some of your child’s own blood stem cells, add a healthy copy of the gene needed to make haemoglobin, and then return these cells to the body after special preparation. The goal is that your child’s body starts making enough haemoglobin on its own, so they no longer need regular blood transfusions. In many children, this has already worked successfully.
“Both of my patients had grown up knowing nothing but hospital visits and transfusions. Their parents had shouldered years of emotional and practical struggles, doing everything possible to keep their children well. When Barts Health NHS Trust was asked to identify patients for the new gene therapy programme, we saw a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“But convincing the families was not simple. Gene therapy is new, complex, and frightening to parents who have already endured so much. Understandably, both families were hesitant and fearful of risks. It took almost a year of continuous conversations, reassurance, and building trust before they agreed. At the Great Ormond Street Hospital, I was given an honorary contract so I could support the children and their families before, during, and after the procedure. The therapy itself was intense, requiring months of preparation, but the courage of these families carried them through.
“Six months on, the transformation is extraordinary. These children, once tethered to hospital beds and transfusion schedules, are now living normal lives without the need for blood transfusions. Their energy has returned, their futures are brighter, and their families have finally been released from the unending cycle of hospital visits.”
Dr Anjum said that for the first time, families affected by thalassaemia can imagine a future where their children are free from the shadow of chronic illness. “It shows the power of gene therapy to turn despair into hope, and it highlights what collaboration within the NHS can achieve when we put patients and families at the heart of care.”
Fears sweep royal families across Europe as shocking revelations have come to light in the latest tranche of Epstein files released by the Department of Justice in US.
King Charles had ousted his shamed brother Andrew from the royal fold, stripping off the shamed royal of his honours and titles including Prince-style, over his ties to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. After the King’s landmark move, a beloved royal’s name emerged in the documents.
The Swedish Royal Court had to release a statement which confirmed that Princess Sofia, wife of Prince Carl Philip, had met Epstein but asserted that Sofia did not have any contact with the financier since 2005.
Although, a new email from 2010 reveals that Epstein was receiving updates on the Sofia, as she was getting ready to marry the Prince. Epstein had been interested in inviting Sofia to his private island in the Caribbean.
Sofia’s connection came from her mentor, financier Barbro Ehnbom, who had ties to Epstein. He had introduced her to Epstein as an “aspiring” actress.
In the email sent by Barbro, as it was signed off as ‘BE’, he sent a photo of “our Sofia” who had been enjoying her time in Africa.
Epstein replied by asking whether she wanted to come to the Caribbean and offering to send a ticket.
The exchange was from the time when Sofia had started dating the second son of King Carl XVI Gustaf. She went on to marry Prince Carl Philip in 2015, and welcomed four children together.
There has been no new statement from the Royal Courts so far.
Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan has shared his two cents about the Warner Bros-Netflix merger deal.
Nolan sounded worried with his latest comments about the merger as he believes “loss of a major studio” will result in a major setback for the industry.
During a chat with Variety, the Inception director shared, “I think it’s a very worrying time for the industry. The loss of a major studio is a huge blow…”
According to him, a merger means there is going to be a loss of “jobs and consolidation.”
“There are encouraging noises, but that’s not the same as commitments”, said Nolan.
He further emphasized on the theatrical window of Warner Bros, which symbolically shows if the studio will continue to run as theatrical distributor or it will turn into a streamer.
The 55-year-old Oscar winning director added, “But the reality is, the issues on the television side and the streaming side are far more important to [the Director’s Guild of America].”
Nolan has been known to have a great filmography career as it includes films like The Dark Knight, Interstellar, Tenet, Momento, Dunkirk and many more.
His fans are eagerly waiting for his new film The Odyssey, a Greek epic starring Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya and Robert Pattinson.
The much-awaited movie is slated to release on July 17, 2026.
King Charles had the support of his most loved and trusted people in the family as he continues his ‘uphill’ struggle for an important mission he has pursued all his life.
The King’s wife, Queen Camilla, and the monarch’s secret weapon, Duchess Sophie, were joined by the Duchess of Gloucester were present at Windsor to uplift the spirits of the not only the monarch, but the team that has been working tirelessly to pull off a starry event at Windsor.
The royals hosted a premiere of the upcoming documentary Finding Harmony: A King’s Vision, which delves into the lifelong agenda Charles has worked for: protecting the natural environment.
Charles has founded the King’s Foundation in 1970 and as it continues to build the skills of young Britons, the royal women chose to honour the work of the graduates from the Foundation’s programmes.
Aptly, the documentary also emphasises the need for “rewear, repair or recycle”. The graduates had designed brooches by using sustainable materials, inspired by the gardens of Highgrove, the monarch’s royal residence in Tetbury, Gloucestershire.
The Queen wore a brooch designed and embroidered by Eliza Gomersall and Durga Shanthakumar, the Duchess of Edinburgh wore a brooch by Katie Dickson and Duchess of Gloucester wore a brooch by Tamsin Lines.
The brooches were developed in partnership with Chanel, in the course which offers students training opportunities in embroidery for haute couture and the luxury fashion industry.
Katie said that it was an “honour” to design something for the royals. It also seemed a meaningful way for the royal women to embrace Charles’s message in the documentary.
Renewable energy uptake grows, but textile decarbonisation lags
India’s Arvind Fashions posts strong Q3 FY26 as revenue jumps 14.5%
Royal Princess photo emerges in Epstein files weeks after Palace notice
-
Sports7 days agoPSL 11: Local players’ category renewals unveiled ahead of auction
-
Sports6 days agoCollege football’s top 100 games of the 2025 season
-
Entertainment6 days agoClaire Danes reveals how she reacted to pregnancy at 44
-
Business7 days agoBanking services disrupted as bank employees go on nationwide strike demanding five-day work week
-
Politics6 days agoTrump vows to ‘de-escalate’ after Minneapolis shootings
-
Sports6 days agoTammy Abraham joins Aston Villa 1 day after Besiktas transfer
-
Tech7 days agoBrighten Your Darkest Time (of Year) With This Smart Home Upgrade
-
Entertainment6 days agoK-Pop star Rosé to appear in special podcast before Grammy’s