Pharmaceutical Perspectives of Nucleic Acid-Based Therapy presents a comprehensive account of gene therapy, from development in the laboratory to clinical applications, with an emphasis on cancer and cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases. Internationally acclaimed scientists discuss the potential use of lipids, peptides and polymers for the in vivo delivery of nucleic acids, the genesis of structure-synthesis-function interrelationships and the evolutionary approaches of these gene carriers. The book also addresses the influence of a viable gene expression system on disease by controlling gene regulation, transcription, translation and replication.