ABI-201 is an engineered AAV.N54 vector that expresses a soluble CD59 variant and a complement 3 (C3) inhibitor fusion protein. ABI-201 was developed by Avirmax Biopharma Inc. to confer photoreceptor protection against retinal damage. The effects of ABI-201 were tested in a sodium iodate-induced retinal damage model in nonhuman primates, a widely used model for testing therapies for age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Recent evidence has suggested that the use of norrin mimetics targeting both frizzled-4 (FZD4) and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5) may be highly effective at modulating retinal vascular leakage. When combined with an anti-VEGF therapy, it was hypothesized to have an additive benefit potential for treating retinal vascular disorders.
Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness and is characterized by the death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Genetic screening data have identified dual leucine zipper kinase (DLK) and leucine zipper kinase (LZK) as important mediators of RGC death.
Innovent Biologics Inc.’s efdamrofusp alfa (IBI-302) met the primary endpoint in phase II, showing a gain of 10 or more letters in visual acuity from baseline at one year in Chinese patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration.
Aldeyra Therapeutics Inc. is making another run at U.S. FDA clearance for reproxalap in dry eye disease (DED) after nailing the primary endpoint in a phase III randomized, double-masked, vehicle-controlled dry eye chamber trial of 0.25% ophthalmic solution.
Odylia Therapeutics Inc. has announced it is working under a codevelopment partnership with the NPHP1 Family Foundation to create an AAV-based gene replacement therapy for retinal dystrophy caused by mutations in the NPHP1 (nephrocystin-1) gene.
Another complete response letter from the U.S. FDA for Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s age-related macular degeneration (AMD) therapy Eylea (aflibercept) – along with disappointing sales of the VEGF inhibitor – dented shares (NASDAQ:REGN) by $41.95. They closed April 29 at $568.91, having traded as low as $542.44 during the day.
Scientists from the Machine Intelligence from Cortical Networks (MICRONS) consortium have published the microconnectome of a cubic millimeter of the mouse brain. This is the most complete map of this organ to date at nanometer resolution for a mammal. It not only contains the structure and connections of each and every cell in that volume of tissue, but is also linked to the neuronal activity of that portion of the CNS, linking anatomy and function in the same cells.
Genflow Biosciences plc has announced a development program in ophthalmology focused on advancing a novel gene therapy leveraging its proprietary centenarian SIRT6 (cSIRT6).
Variant SAS and the Rare Ocular Diseases Center at the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli (UCLV) have received positive feedback from the EMA for VAR-002, a recombinant AAV vector gene therapy targeting inherited retinal dystrophies linked to CRX mutations.
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