Safety and Efficacy Study in Patients With Retinitis Pigmentosa Due to Mutations in PDE6B Gene

Summary

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Description

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a disease where part of the eye (the retina) is degenerating over time. Patients initially present with night blindness, and later in life experience loss of central vision which leads to blindness. RP is a highly variable disorder with some patients developing symptomat...

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a disease where part of the eye (the retina) is degenerating over time. Patients initially present with night blindness, and later in life experience loss of central vision which leads to blindness. RP is a highly variable disorder with some patients developing symptomatic visual loss in childhood whereas others remain asymptomatic until mid-adulthood. There are no treatments available. This study focuses on the form of RP caused by mutations (modifications) in the genetic information necessary to make the protein called rod cGMP phosphodiesterase 6 ? subunit (or PDE6?). Clinical diagnosis is made by function tests of the eye and confirmed using a specific method called molecular testing to verify that the PDE6B gene is not correct. This study uses a gene therapy vector inspired from an adeno-associated virus (AAV) called AAV2/5-hPDE6B. This vector intends to supply to the target cells the PDE6B therapeutic gene that is not functioning properly in the cell. The AAV parts of the gene therapy vector work as a vehicle to deliver the normal human PDE6B gene into the cells of the retina.

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