Patient advocacy helps patients weigh up gene therapy trial risk/benefits

The investigators behind the first gene therapy trial with adenoassociated virus 8 (AAV8) Factor IX appointed a patient ombudsperson to help ensure participants were able to give truly informed consent. The experiences and challenges of the ombudsperson, who met with the first six UK-based patients, are described. It was stressed to potential participants that altruism, rather than any expectation of clinical benefit, should be the primary motivation to taking part. At the same time a sober assessment of the potential risks to their safety needed to be made.