Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:AGTC), a biotechnology company conducting human clinical trials of adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapies for the treatment of rare diseases, has enrolled the first patient of the second cohort in the company’s Phase 1/2 clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of an investigational AAV-based gene therapy for the treatment of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP). Under the terms of its collaboration with Biogen (NASDAQ: BIIB), AGTC will receive a milestone payment of $10 million.
“We are pleased to announce this important milestone under our collaboration with Biogen and remain on track to complete the dose escalation portion of the trial in the first quarter of 2019,” said Sue Washer, President and CEO of AGTC.
The Phase 1/2 trial is an open-label, dose escalation study designed to assess the safety and efficacy of subretinal administration of the AAV-based gene therapy in patients diagnosed with XLRP caused by mutations in the RPGR gene. The primary focus of the study will be to assess the safety of the vector and subretinal delivery procedure through analysis of focal (ocular) and systemic treatment-emergent adverse events. Potential efficacy will be measured by evaluation of changes in retinal structure, visual function and quality of life.
