beta-thalassemia

noun

be·ta-thal·as·se·mia ˈbā-tə-ˌtha-lə-ˈsē-mē-ə

: thalassemia in which the longer hemoglobin chain is affected and which comprises Cooley's anemia in the homozygous condition and thalassemia minor in the heterozygous condition

Examples of beta-thalassemia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web One of them, which treats a blood disorder called beta-thalassemia, costs $2.8 million. —

Emily Mullin, WIRED, 10 July 2023 All eyes right now are on exa-cel, a gene-editing therapy that awaits regulatory approvals for use in two conditions — sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia. —

The Motley Fool, Dallas News, 10 May 2023 Other licensed gene therapies, like Novartis’s Zolgensma for spinal muscular dystrophy and Bluebird bio’s Zynteglo for beta-thalassemia, cost $2.1 million and $2.8 million, respectively. —

Megan Molteni, STAT, 7 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'beta-thalassemia.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of beta-thalassemia was in 1962

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Beta-thalassemia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beta-thalassemia. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.

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Medical Definition

beta-thalassemia

noun

be·ta-thal·as·se·mia

variants or β-thalassemia or British beta-thalassaemia or β-thalassaemia

-ˌthal-ə-ˈsē-mē-ə

: thalassemia in which the hemoglobin chains designated beta are affected and which comprises Cooley's anemia in the homozygous condition and thalassemia minor in the heterozygous condition compare alpha-thalassemia