50 years ago, enzyme injections showed promise for treating a rare disease
Excerpt from the April 28, 1973 issue of Science News
First successful enzyme therapy in humans — Science News, April 28, 1973
Fabry’s disease … [is caused by] a faulty fat-metabolizing enzyme called alpha-galactosidase. Because the abnormal enzyme does not break down lipids in the blood as it should, they accumulate in the body. [Researchers] tried to purify the enzyme in its normal form from human placental tissue. Four months ago they got enough of the enzyme to inject into two patients…. The results look promising.