Key points from article :
Gene silencing is set to be used on the NHS for people who live in crippling pain.
The drug treats acute intermittent porphyria, which runs in families and can leave people unable to work or have a normal life.
Porphyria leads to a build-up of toxic proteins in the body, that cause the physical pain.
Gene silencing gets to the root-cause of the disease rather than just managing their symptoms.
Mutes a set of genetic instructions to block that protein production.
Clinical trials showed the gene silencing therapy, called givosiran, cut the number of severe attacks by 74%.
The NICE, which approves drugs for use in England, said the therapy would improve people's quality of life.
"...possible to treat diseases including Alzheimer's and cancer and everything else," - David Rees, director of the King's College Hospital National Acute Porphyria Service.
