Biogen Boosts Gene Therapy Strategy With Harvard Pact Focused on Inherited Eye Disease
Mutations in more than 270 genes have been implicated in inherited eye diseases like retinitis pigmentosa. Now, Biogen has formed a research pact with Harvard’s Massachusetts Eye and Ear that’s aimed at developing a gene therapy to help some patients with these blinding diseases, according to a FierceBiotech report.
The gene at the center of the new agreement, PRPF31, has been linked to autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa. PRPF31 mutations are believed to cause an estimated 25% of all retinitis pigmentosa cases. The partners did not disclose the financial terms of the deal. The tie-up comes 8 months after a Mass Eye and Ear team published preclinical research demonstrating a gene therapy technique for repairing cells with mutated PRPF31 genes.