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Acucela, University of Manchester enter licensing agreement for gene therapy
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Acucela has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with the University of Manchester to develop and commercialize the university’s human rhodopsin-based optogenetic gene therapy to treat retinitis pigmentosa and related conditions, according to a company press release.
“We are extremely excited to enter into this collaboration with the University of Manchester and to begin the important development work needed to unlock the potential of optogenetic gene therapy to improve visual function in patients who have lost much of their vision as well as their hope,” Ryo Kubota, MD, PhD, chairman, president and CEO of Acucela, said in the release.
The gene therapy will be studied across a variety of genetic mutations in retinitis pigmentosa and related conditions. Acucela plans to evaluate the technology to restore some vision in patients who are legally blind.