ANN ARBOR, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--RetroSense Therapeutics, a privately-held biopharmaceutical company, today announced that Chief Executive Officer Sean Ainsworth will provide an overview of the Company’s approach to vision restoration at the 8th Ocular Diseases Drug Discovery Conference at the Westin Hotel in San Diego, CA. The presentation, entitled Novel Optogenetic Approach to Vision Restoration in Retinal Degenerative Conditions, will take place at 2:45 p.m. PDT on Monday, March 21, 2016.
RetroSense is developing optogenetic approaches to partial vision restoration in retinitis pigmentosa and potentially dry age-related macular degeneration. The Company’s lead product, RST-001 is being developed as a first-in-class gene therapy application of optogenetics designed to restore vision to those affected by retinal degenerative conditions. RST-001, has been cleared by the FDA to advance into Phase I/II clinical studies.
In addition, Ainsworth will join Dr. Zhuo-Hua Pan from the Ligon Research Center of Vision, Kresge Eye Institute at Wayne State University to discuss the latest developments on RST-001 at the Foundation Fighting Blindness’ 9th Annual Michigan VisionWalk kick off meeting at noon on Saturday, March 19, 2016. This event is being held at the VistaTech Center in Livonia, MI.
About Optogenetics
Optogenetics refers broadly to means of conferring light sensitivity to cells that were not previously, or natively light sensitive. By applying optogenetics to retinas in which rod and cone photoreceptors have degenerated, RetroSense is conferring new light sensitivity to the retina, with the expectation of improved or restored vision. RST-001 is expected to have application to all forms of Retinitis Pigmentosa, independent of causative gene or mutation.
About Retinitis Pigmentosa
Retinitis pigmentosa is a genetic condition which leads to the progressive degeneration of rod and cone photoreceptors (cells found in the retina of the eye that sense light). Loss of these cells results in severe vision loss and blindness.
About RetroSense Therapeutics
RetroSense Therapeutics is a privately-held biotechnology company developing life-enhancing gene therapies designed to restore vision in patients suffering from blindness due to retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and advanced dry age-related macular degeneration (advanced dry-AMD). There are currently no FDA approved drugs to improve or restore vision in patients with these retinal degenerative conditions. The Company's approach to using optogenetics in vision restoration is based on pioneering, proprietary research conducted at Wayne State University and Massachusetts General Hospital. RetroSense has worldwide exclusive rights to the relevant intellectual property from both institutions. RetroSense is led by a team of seasoned veterans with deep experience in taking products from the discovery stage through to the clinic. For more information about RetroSense, visit http://www.retro-sense.com/.