Louise Ivers

Opus Genetics Announces Acquisition of the Rights to Two Gene Therapy Product Candidates for Inherited Retinal Diseases

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, December 28, 2022
Ghent University Hospital, Severe cognitive impairment, Therapy, RESEARCH, Medical genetics, Louise Ivers, AAV, Ghent University, Epithelium, Retinal pigment epithelium, BEST1, Division, IRDS, Growth, Patient, Raymond, Retina, Genetics, Retinal degeneration, PARK, Doctor of Philosophy, Pharmaceutical industry, MD, EU, Opus, Ophthalmology, IND

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Dec. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Opus Genetics, a patient-first, clinical-stage gene therapy company developing treatments for inherited retinal diseases, today announced it has acquired the rights to two preclinical-stage AAV-based gene therapy product candidates for inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) from Iveric Bio. Opus will develop the novel gene therapy candidates to address bestrophin-1 (BEST1)-related inherited retinal diseases and rhodopsin-mediated autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (RHO-adRP), respectively.

Key Points: 
  • RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Dec. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Opus Genetics, a patient-first, clinical-stage gene therapy company developing treatments for inherited retinal diseases, today announced it has acquired the rights to two preclinical-stage AAV-based gene therapy product candidates for inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) from Iveric Bio.
  • Opus will develop the novel gene therapy candidates to address bestrophin-1 (BEST1)-related inherited retinal diseases and rhodopsin-mediated autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (RHO-adRP), respectively.
  • The BEST1 gene therapy is designed to deliver a functional copy of the BEST1 gene to retinal pigment epithelial cells to produce bestrophin-1 protein and normalize homeostasis between the photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelial cells.
  • Iveric retains certain rights with respect to the potential future commercialization of gene therapy products for BEST1 and/or RHO-adRP under certain circumstances.

Ophthalmologists Report Need for Education and Cooperation Between Treating Physicians and Referrers for Geographic Atrophy, According to Spherix Global Insights

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, November 29, 2022
Ophthalmology, Louise Ivers, Intravitreal injection, Empathy, Geographic atrophy, Patient, Retina, Optometry, Disease, Research, Severe cognitive impairment, FDA, HIV disease progression rates, Pharmaceutical industry

EXTON, Pa., Nov. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Spherix Global Insights ("Spherix") recently surveyed 131 US ophthalmologists (81 of whom personally administer intravitreal injections) and 50 optometrists and followed up with 8 qualitative interviews to assess the current and future treatment paradigm of geographic atrophy (GA). This inaugural wave of research is included in Spherix's Market Dynamix™ service and highlights metrics on patient management, while also delving deeper into the opportunity for agents in development.

Key Points: 
  • GA has long been considered an untreatable condition, with devastating consequences of disease progression (blindness and an inevitable loss of independence) well documented from the ophthalmology community.
  • Additionally, optometrists are less likely than ophthalmologists to believe asymptomatic GA patients will be likely to receive intravitreal injection proactively.
  • Ophthalmologists suggest "empathy for what patients go through with GA" is going to be necessary for referrers to fully understand the appropriate treatment approach.
  • Some respondents speculate that even the retina community will need time to fully understand how and when to treat these patients.