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RetroSense Raises $6M to Develop Optogenetics for Vision Restoration

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Clinical-stage biotechnology company RetroSense Therapeutics LLC has secured $6 million in financing from new and existing investors to advance its optogenetics technology for the restoration of sight.

The privately held company had previously raised $7 million in financing for a total investment of $13 million in 2015. Net proceeds should enable completion of Phase I/II clinical study of RST-001, a compound for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa (RP), and to further develop a second gene therapy candidate, the company said.

RST-001 employs the photosensitive gene channelrhodopsin-2 to create new photosensors in retinal cells, and restore vision in retinal degenerative conditions such as RP and advanced dry age-related macular degeneration.

The FDA granted orphan drug designation to RST-001 in 2014 and authorized first-in-human clinical trials for the product in 2015, for which recruitment is currently underway. RST-001 is expected to have application to all forms of RP, regardless of an individual’s causative gene or mutation.

There are currently no FDA-approved drugs to improve or restore vision in patients with retinal degenerative conditions. RetroSense’s approach to using optogenetics for vision restoration is based on research conducted at Wayne State University in Detroit, and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

For more information, visit www.retro-sense.com.
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Published: November 2015
Glossary
optogenetics
A discipline that combines optics and genetics to enable the use of light to stimulate and control cells in living tissue, typically neurons, which have been genetically modified to respond to light. Only the cells that have been modified to include light-sensitive proteins will be under control of the light. The ability to selectively target cells gives researchers precise control. Using light to control the excitation, inhibition and signaling pathways of specific cells or groups of...
ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is a branch of medicine that focuses on the anatomy, physiology, and diseases of the eyes and visual system. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of eye disorders and diseases. They are trained to provide comprehensive eye care, including medical, surgical, and optical interventions. Key areas within ophthalmology include: General eye care: Ophthalmologists perform routine eye examinations to assess visual acuity,...
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