University of Pennsylvania

Ascidian Therapeutics, Inc.

Scott J Dooley

Jean Bennett

Junwei Sun

Krishna J Fisher

Philip R Johnson

Bruce C Schnepp

Lloyd G Mitchell

Jeannette Bennicelli

Robert Bell

Akiko Doi

Jesse Gray

Kirk Burkhart

Lingtao Peng

Adam Clemens

Rebekka Krumbach

Dennis Wu

Akiko Noma

Kirk Gosik

Shimyn Slomovic

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

Provided herein are nucleic acid trans-splicing molecules (e.g., pre-mRNA trans-splicing molecules (RTMs); RNA exon editing molecules) capable of correcting mutations in the ABCA4 gene. Such molecules are useful in the treatment of disorders such as ABCA4-associated retinal dystrophies (e.g., Stargardt Disease or cone-rod dystrophy). Also described herein are methods of using the nucleic acid trans-splicing molecules described herein to correct mutations in ABCA4, thereby treating disorders associated with mutations in ABCA4 and use of the nucleic acid trans-splicing molecules described herein for treating disorders associated with mutations in ABCA4 and in the preparation of medicaments for the treatment of disorders associated with mutations in ABCA4.

ABCA4 trans-splicing molecules

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

Growing community of inventors

Philadelphia, PA, United States of America

Scott J Dooley