If gene therapy is perfected it can become very beneficial to people. For some, it would be their only hope for a cure. The only way of curing genetic disorders is by replacing the defective gene with a healthy copy. There is the possibility of completely wiping out diseases by targeting reproductive cells, in turn curing the carrier and preventing them from passing the disease on to their offspring.
Overall, gene therapy is much more beneficial to a patient than drug therapy would be since gene therapy can completely cure a disease whereas drug therapy eases symptoms
Cons
Although gene therapy can be the saviour for many people suffering from genetic disorders, it still has some drawbacks. The lack of knowledge our world has makes this form of therapy more risky. All the knowledge that scientists have about gene therapy is based on theory, not fact. There is no guarantee that the vector carrying the healthy gene will end up in the correct spot; being placed incorrectly can result in even more damage to the person. Even if it is placed correctly, in clinical trials that have already been held the effects have not been permanent, making the “cure” short-lived.
Other disadvantages pertain to the ethics of the whole process. Some argue that gene therapy gives people knowledge about things “we aren’t meant to know”. It can give people the opportunity to “design their baby” if they have the ability to tamper with a person’s genes