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Collaboration announced to develop treatment for Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy
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SAN JOSE, Calif. — Edison Pharmaceuticals has entered into collaboration with the Institute of Vision, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, to develop drugs targeting Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy, the company announced.
Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is caused by genetic defects in the mitochondria, according to a press release from Edison. Edison is teaming with the Institute of Vision and its LHON international consortium to aid in evaluating the company's drugs that target inherited mitochondrial diseases.
"Given our access to an extensive pedigree of patients with LHON residing in Brazil, the Institute of Vision has served as a center for LHON investigations," Dr. Rubens Belfort Jr., professor and president of the Institute of Vision, said in the press release. "Our goal is to expand our knowledge of LHON, thereby developing new diagnostic tests and drugs for LHON and related mitochondrial diseases of the eye."
Guy Miller, chief executive officer of Edison, said in the press release, "Edison has been working with several members of the LHON international consortium for over a year and is extending its ophthalmologic program to the Institute of Vision in Brazil. As many mitochondrial diseases, including LHON, have significant visual disturbances associated with them, we see this effort has having broad therapeutic applications for drugs under development at Edison."