Oxford BioMedica plc (“Oxford BioMedica” or “the Company”) (LSE: OXB), the leading gene-based biopharmaceutical company, today announces that it has entered into a research and development collaboration with Mayo Clinic, Rochester (USA) to develop a novel gene therapy for the treatment of chronic glaucoma. Under the terms of the agreement, Mayo Clinic and Oxford BioMedica will undertake pre-clinical studies to establish the feasibility of treating glaucoma using Oxford BioMedica’s proprietary LentiVector® gene delivery technology expressing a COX-2 gene and a PGF-2α receptor gene in order to reduce intraocular pressure. The collaboration includes an option for exclusive US rights to license Mayo Clinic’s glaucoma technology, which Oxford BioMedica can exercise upon completion of pre-clinical studies under confidential terms agreed by Mayo Clinic and the Company.
“We are pleased to collaborate with Oxford BioMedica on research and clinical translation for the treatment of glaucoma.”
The collaboration builds on earlier pre-clinical research, conducted by Eric Poeschla M.D., Mayo Clinic and his research team, which has established initial proof-of-concept for this approach to treating chronic glaucoma. This work will be extended using the LentiVector® technology and may support the rapid transition of another novel ocular gene therapy into clinical development.
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases characterised by vision loss due to damage of the optic nerve affecting over 60 million people worldwide (source: Mayo Clinic). Over 90% of glaucoma is classed as primary open-angle glaucoma (also known as chronic glaucoma or chronic open-angle glaucoma) which results from a partial blockage within the trabecular meshwork of the eye, the tissue mainly responsible for draining the internal fluid of the eye (aqueous humour). As the aqueous humour builds up, it causes increased intraocular pressure which can damage the optic nerve. Damaged parts of the nerve and retina lead to permanent patches of vision loss and, in some cases, can lead to blindness.
Current treatment options for glaucoma aim to reduce intraocular pressure either through topical methods (e.g. eye drops) or eye surgery, however these approaches are not effective in all cases. Patient compliance with topical treatments can be very poor, especially those requiring daily application, and many therapies have side effects which can restrict chronic use. Consequently, there remains a large unmet medical need in a significant proportion of the patient population. Oxford BioMedica has conducted pre-clinical and clinical studies that suggest a single application of its LentiVector® platform products can provide sustained or permanent therapeutic activity. By using a novel gene therapy to provide long-term control of intraocular pressure, this approach could minimise the risk of disease progression.
Source: Oxford Biomedica
published: October 31, 2011 in: Healthcare, News, Ophthalmics, Techniques, Technology