University of Pennsylvania

University of Florida Research Foundation Inc

Cornell Research Foundation Inc.

Ascidian Therapeutics, Inc.

University of California

Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique

Institut National De La Sante Et De La Recherche Medicale

University of Southern California

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Mcgill University

Université Pierre Et Marie Curie (paris 6)

The Trustees of the University of Pennyslvania

Jean Bennett

Junwei Sun

Jeannette Bennicelli

Scott J Dooley

Theodore G Drivas

Albert M Maguire

William W Hauswirth

Gustavo D Aguirre

Krishna J Fisher

Gregory M Acland

Philip R Johnson

Bruce C Schnepp

Samuel Jacobson

Luk E Vandenberghe

Vidyullatha Vasireddy

Devin McDougald

Therese Cronin

Ji Yun Song

Jose-Alain Sahel

Luk H Vandenberghe

Katherine A High

John G Flannery

Lloyd G Mitchell

Thierry Leveillard

Leah Caroline Thomas Byrne

Catherine Argyriou

Emmanuelle Clerin-Lachapelle

Joseph Hacia

Xin Mei

Nancy Braverman

Kenneth Shindler

Jennifer Wellman

Ahmara Gibbons Ross

Daniel Chung

Sarah McCague

Gregory Podsakoff

Mitchell Lewis

Matthew Sochor

Joshua Lipschutz

Sergei Nikonov

The present invention features nucleic acid trans-splicing molecules (e.g., pre-mRNA trans-splicing molecules (RTMs)) capable of correcting one or more mutations in the ABCA4 gene or the CEP290 gene. Such molecules are useful in the treatment of disorders associated with mutations in ABCA4, such as Stargardt Disease (e.g., Stargardt Disease 1) and disorders associated with a mutation in CEP290, such as Leber congenital amourosis 10 (LCA 10). Also provided by the invention described herein are methods of using the nucleic acid trans-splicing molecules for correcting mutations in ABCA4 and CEP290 and for treating disorders associated with mutations in ABCA4 and CEP290, such as Stargardt Disease and LCA 10.

Trans-splicing molecules

Codon optimized nucleic acid sequences for RDH12 are provided, as well as recombinant viral vectors, such as AAV, expression cassettes, proviral plasmids or other plasmids containing the codon optimized sequence for functional RDH12. Recombinant vectors are provided that express the codon optimized, functional RDH12. Compositions containing these codon optimized sequences are useful in methods for treating, retarding or halting certain blinding diseases resulting from the absence, deficiency or inappropriate expression of RDH12. Other compositions and methods are providing for correcting a non-functional, defective or inadequately expressed native RDH12.

Methods and compositions for treatment of disorders and diseases involving RDH12

Compositions and methods are provided for treating ocular disorders in a subject are provided. In one aspect, an adeno-associated viral vector is provided which includes a nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence encoding CNGA3. In another aspect, an adeno-associated viral vector is provided which includes a nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence encoding CNGB3. In another aspect, an adeno-associated viral vector is provided which includes a nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence encoding REP-1. In desired embodiments, the subject is human, cat, dog, sheep, or non-human primate.

Gene therapy for ocular disorders

Codon optimized nucleic acid sequences for the long form and short form of RdCVF are provided, as well as recombinant viral vectors, such as AAV, expression cassettes, proviral plasmids or other plasmids containing the codon optimized sequences. Recombinant vectors are provided that express the codon optimized RdCVFL and RdCVF individually, or express two copies of a codon optimized RdCVF or RdCVFL nucleic acid sequence, or both RdCVFL and RdCVF in a single vector or virus. Compositions containing these codon optimized sequences are useful in methods for treating, retarding or halting certain blinding diseases resulting from the absence or inappropriate expression of RdCVF and RdCVFL.

Methods and compositions for treatment of ocular disorders and blinding diseases

Compositions and methods are provided for treating ocular neuropathy in a subject. In one aspect, a recombinant adeno-associated viral vector is provided which includes a nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence encoding NRF2. In another aspect, a recombinant adeno-associated viral vector is provided which includes a nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence encoding SIRT1. In desired embodiments, the subject is human, cat, dog, sheep, or non-human primate.

Methods and compositions are provided for treatment of peroxisomal biogenesis disorders (PBDs). More particularly, recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAV) provided in the form of compositions are used to deliver a nucleic acid encoding human PEX1 to host cells. The rAAVs comprise a AAV capsid, and packaged therein a vector genome comprising an AAV 5' inverted terminal repeat (ITR) sequence; a promoter; a coding sequence encoding a human PEX1; and an AAV 3&#x2032; ITR.

Gene therapy for treating peroxisomal disorders

Compositions and methods are provided for treating Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) in a subject. In one aspect, a recombinant adeno-associated viral vector is provided which includes a nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence encoding Lebercilin. In another aspect, Lebercilin has an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1. In yet another aspect, the nucleic acid molecule has a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or a variant thereof. In desired embodiments, the subject is human, cat, dog, sheep, or non-human primate.

The present invention provides a reading test to measure vision loss. In one embodiment, the vision loss is due to disease progression. The tests are useful in evaluating the effects of intervention in vision deterioration. The tests are non-invasive, simple, quick, sensitive, reproducible, and easy to administer. The tests measure the subject's reading speed and accuracy under defined conditions of illumination and contrast. The results of these tests may be used to determine if treatment of a disease should be initiated, terminated, altered, or remain unchanged.

Vision test for determining retinal disease progression

A nucleic acid trans-splicing molecule is provided that can replace an exon in a targeted mammalian ocular gene carrying a defect or mutation causing an ocular disease with an exon having the naturally-occurring sequence without the defect or mutation. A method of treating an ocular disease, e.g., Stargardt's Disease, caused by a defect or mutation in a target gene, e.g., ABCA4 comprising: administering to the ocular cells of a subject having an ocular disease a composition comprising a recombinant AAV comprising a nucleic acid trans-splicing molecule as described above.

Compositions and methods for correction of heritable ocular disease

This invention provides methods for transducing a ciliated cell with a recombinant serotype 2 adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector. Additionally, the invention provides methods of treating diseases associated with a mutated gene by transducing a ciliated cell with a recombinant serotype 2 AAV vector containing a corrective transgene.

Method for transducing cells with primary cilia

Growing community of inventors

Bryn Mawr, PA, United States of America

Jean Bennett