Blind man has sight partly restored after pioneering treatment
Man regains ability to recognise objects in first example of successful optogenetic therapy in humansA blind man has had his sight partly restored after a form of gene therapy that uses pulses of light to control the activity of nerve cells – the first successful demonstration of so-called optogenetic therapy in humans.The 58-year-old man, from Brittany in northern France, was said to be “very excited” after regaining the ability to recognise, count, locate and touch different objects with the treated eye while wearing a pair of light-stimulating goggles, having lost his sight after being diagnosed with retinitis pig...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - May 24, 2021 Category: Science Authors: Linda Geddes Science correspondent Tags: Neuroscience Blindness and visual impairment Medical research Health Society Disability Source Type: news
Janssen Acquires Rights to Novel Gene Therapy, Pioneering Treatment Solutions for Late-Stage Age-Related Macular Degeneration
RARITAN, NJ, December 2, 2020 – Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, today announced the acquisition of rights to Hemera Biosciences, LLC’s investigational gene therapy HMR59, administered as a one-time, outpatient, intravitreal injection to help preserve vision in patients with geographic atrophy, a late-stage and severe form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Financial terms of the transaction with Hemera Biosciences, a privately-owned biotechnology company, are not being disclosed. Patients with AMD often have low levels of CD59, a protein that ...
Source: Johnson and Johnson - December 2, 2020 Category: Pharmaceuticals Tags: Innovation Source Type: news
Late-Breaking 12-Month Data of Investigational RPGR Gene Therapy Shows Statistically Significant and Continued Vision Improvement in Patients with X-Linked Retinitis Pigmentosa
RARITAN, N.J., November 13, 2020 – The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson announced today new 12-month data from the ongoing Phase 1/2 trial (NCT03252847) of its investigational gene therapy for inherited retinal disease X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP). The data showed that low and intermediate doses were well-tolerated and continued to demonstrate statistically significant sustained or increased vision improvement across multiple metrics (mean sensitivity, volumetric and pointwise) and modalities (full-field static perimetry and microperimetry). Data on the novel adeno-associated virus retini...
Source: Johnson and Johnson - November 13, 2020 Category: Pharmaceuticals Tags: Innovation Source Type: news
Interim Six-Month Data of RPGR Gene Therapy Shows Significant Vision Improvement in Patients Living with X-Linked Retinitis Pigmentosa
First data to read out from the Janssen and MeiraGTx collaboration
Johnson & Johnson to review interim Phase 1/2 clinical trial findings in pre-recorded webcast
Company anticipates progressing the program to Phase 3
RARITAN, N.J., July 17, 2020 --... Biopharmaceuticals, Ophthalmology Janssen Pharmaceutical, ohnson & Johnson, retinitis pigmentosa (Source: HSMN NewsFeed)
Source: HSMN NewsFeed - July 17, 2020 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news
Interim Six-Month Data of RPGR Gene Therapy Shows Significant Vision Improvement in Patients Living with X-Linked Retinitis Pigmentosa
Click to Access Audio Press ReleaseRARITAN, NJ, July 17, 2020 – The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson announced today six-month data from the ongoing Phase 1/2 trial (NCT03252847) of its investigational gene therapy for the treatment of inherited retinal disease X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP). The interim data showed that low and intermediate doses of the investigational adeno-associated virus retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator (AAV-RPGR) were generally well-tolerated and indicated significant improvement in vision. Initial data on the novel AAV-RPGR asset, jointly developed with MeiraGTx...
Source: Johnson and Johnson - July 17, 2020 Category: Pharmaceuticals Tags: Innovation Source Type: news
Retinitis pigmentosa research probes role of the enzyme DHDDS in this genetic disease
(University of Alabama at Birmingham) Researchers who made a knock-in mouse-model of the genetic disorder retinitis pigmentosa 59, or RP59, expected to see retinal degeneration and retinal thinning. As reported in the journal Cells, they surprisingly found none, calling into question the commonly accepted -- though never proved -- mechanism for RP59. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - June 11, 2020 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news
Johnson & Johnson Reports 2020 First-Quarter Results:
New Brunswick, N.J. (April 14, 2020) – Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) today announced results for first-quarter 2020. The Company also announced earlier today that its Board of Directors declared a 6.3% increase in the quarterly dividend rate, from $0.95 per share to $1.01 per share. At the new rate, the indicated dividend on an annual basis is $4.04 per share compared to the previous rate of $3.80 per share. “With Johnson & Johnson’s century-plus history of leading in times of great challenge, we are mobilizing our resources across the Company in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Alex Gorsky, C...
Source: Johnson and Johnson - April 14, 2020 Category: Pharmaceuticals Tags: Our Company Source Type: news
Disturbed retinal gene function underlying canine blindness
(University of Helsinki) A canine study carried out at the University of Helsinki has described a gene variant in the regulatory region of the retina resulting in the abnormal function of retinal genes and, eventually, in the loss of vision in dogs. The study can benefit the diagnostics and treatment of retinitis pigmentosa, a disease suffered by two million human beings globally. (Source: EurekAlert! - Biology)
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - March 10, 2020 Category: Biology Source Type: news
European Medicines Agency Grants PRIME and Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product Designations to Janssen ’s RPGR Gene Therapy for X-Linked Retinitis Pigmentosa
RARITAN, NJ, March 2, 2020 – The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson announced today that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has granted both PRIME (PRIority MEdicines) and Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product (ATMP) designations to the company’s adeno-associated virus (AAV)-RPGR gene therapy product for the treatment of inherited retinal disease X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP). PRIME is awarded to increase interactions, optimize development plans and accelerate innovative treatments where there is unmet medical need. Similarly, ATMP status is granted to medicines that are based on genes, tiss...
Source: Johnson and Johnson - March 2, 2020 Category: Pharmaceuticals Tags: Innovation Source Type: news
UNH researchers solve protein structure associated with inherited retinal diseases
(University of New Hampshire) UNH Researchers have reported the first structural model for a key enzyme, and its activating protein, that can play a role in some genetically inherited eye diseases like retinitis pigmentosa and night blindness. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - January 8, 2020 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news
Under the lens: Link between macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa
(University of Houston) With a $2.5 million grant from the National Eye Institute, a team of biomedical researchers at the University of Houston is tackling the link between macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa via a protein which, when mutated, can cause both. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - November 25, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news
Retinitis Pigmentosa
Title: Retinitis PigmentosaCategory: Diseases and ConditionsCreated: 10/1/2010 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 7/31/2019 12:00:00 AM (Source: MedicineNet Eyesight General)
Source: MedicineNet Eyesight General - July 31, 2019 Category: Opthalmology Source Type: news
Research explains how eyes see continuously in bright light
FINDINGSA study by researchers from theUCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute describes a molecular pathway that helps our eyes see continuously in bright light. The findings help answer a longstanding question about mammalian vision: Why don ’t our eyes become less sensitive when they’re bombarded with bright light? The research, conducted in mice, reveals that a special molecule, which uses sunlight itself, rapidly recycles visual pigments after the pigments sense light and change structure.BACKGROUNDTo see, all animals rely on a molecule known as 11-cis -retinal, which is present in both the rods and cones of our eyes. W...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - May 28, 2019 Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news
ReNeuron Provides Business Update and Results Notification
Second Cohort of Phase 2a Study in Retinitis Pigmentosa Dosing Complete
LONDON, May 8, 2019 -- (Healthcare Sales & Marketing Network) -- ReNeuron Group plc (AIM: RENE), a global leader in the development of cell-based therapeutics, announced a year-end... Regenerative Medicine, Ophthalmology, Neurology ReNeuron Group, retinitis pigmentosa, stroke, stem cell (Source: HSMN NewsFeed)
Source: HSMN NewsFeed - May 8, 2019 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news
Image of the Day: Cone Preservation
Researchers treat mice with retinitis pigmentosa using a gene therapy that reduces cone loss. (Source: The Scientist)
Source: The Scientist - April 30, 2019 Category: Science Tags: Image of the Day Source Type: news
