Oxford Biomedica and Santen collaborate on inherited eye diseases

26 June 2019

UK-based cell and gene therapy company Oxford Biomedica (LSE:OXB), and Santen Pharmaceutical (TYO: 4536), the market leader for prescription ophthalmic pharmaceuticals in Japan, have entered into an R&D collaboration and option and licence agreement to research and develop gene therapy products for the treatment of an inherited retinal disease.

News of the deal pushed the UK firm’s shares up 2.4% to724.14 pence by late morning trading, while Santen closed up 1.15% at 1,763.00 yen by close of trading in Tokyo.

Inherited retinal diseases are ideal candidates for gene therapy because many of the responsible genetic mutations have already been identified. In addition, the eye is a readily accessible organ conducive to direct delivery of gene therapy vectors to the diseased tissue. A key advantage with lentiviral vectors is their ability to deliver large therapeutic genes, which is technically challenging with other vector systems.

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