Dec 12, 2016
NEW YORK, Dec. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- MeiraGTx, a
New York and UK based gene therapy company, announces the expansion of its
Neurodegenerative Disease gene therapy pipeline. Research into the causes of
neurodegenerative disease has converged upon the central idea that misfolded
proteins play a critical role in damaging neuronal function and the ultimate
progression to neuronal cell death. The new program, a collaboration with
Dr. Greg Petsko of Weill Cornell Medicine, targets neurodegenerative disease by
altering neuronal protein processing.
Leveraging seminal work from Dr. Petsko, the Arthur J.
Mahon Professor of Neuroscience and Director of its Helen and Robert Appel
Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute in the Feil Family Brain and Mind
Research Institute at Weill Cornell Medicine, and his colleagues, the new
program targets one of the master regulators of protein trafficking, known as
retromer. Dr. Petsko and colleagues have developed genetic strategies to
reprogram retromer, impacting protein trafficking, processing and aggregation.
Using a gene therapy approach, the team aims to modulate retromer function to
treat several inherited and age-related neurodegenerative diseases including
Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
"We are excited to initiate this important
collaboration," said Dr. Petsko. "I believe that using gene therapy
approaches to correct trafficking defects in the brains of Alzheimer's patients
by increasing retromer pathway function addresses what may be the seminal
cellular problem in this - and probably other - neurodegenerative diseases. My
colleagues and I think this is an innovative and important approach that holds
great promise for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. While we realize
that there is still a long way to go before our ideas can be tested in
patients, partnering with MeiraGTx, one of the world's leading companies in the
exciting field of gene therapy, puts the translation of this science to the
clinic in the best possible hands."
"We are very excited to begin this collaboration
with Dr. Petsko and his colleagues. We believe that retromer is one of the most
important new targets in the field of Alzheimer's and neurodegenerative
disease. Our approaches may lead to effective new therapies for patients
with these diseases," said Alexandria Forbes, Ph.D., President and CEO of
MeiraGTx.
About
MeiraGTx
MeiraGTx is committed to the development of novel gene
therapies to transform the lives of patients suffering from acquired and
inherited disorders. The company is developing treatments for ocular
diseases, including rare inherited blindness and age-related macular
degeneration (AMD). MeiraGTx is also establishing treatments for xerostomia, a
frequent and debilitating side effect of radiation treatment used in head and
neck cancers, as well as certain neurodegenerative diseases. In addition,
MeiraGTx is developing novel gene regulation platforms that promise to
transform the way gene therapy can be applied and create new paradigms for
biologic therapeutics.
About
Weill Cornell Medicine
The doctors and scientists of Weill Cornell Medicine
are engaged in world-class clinical care and cutting-edge research that connect
patients to the latest treatment innovations and prevention strategies. The
mission of the Office of Biopharma Alliances and Research Collaborations at
Weill Cornell Medicine is to proactively generate, structure and negotiate
translational research alliances with industry to advance promising research
projects that have commercial potential. For more information, contact Larry
Schlossman at las2041@med.cornell.edu or
at 212-746-6909.
This press release contains forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations and are
subject to certain factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual
results, outcome of events, timing and performance to differ materially from
those expressed or implied by such statements. The information contained in
this press release is believed to be current as of the date of original issue.
MeiraGTx expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly
any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to
reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in
events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based
Contact:
Andy Merrill
Prosek Partners
212-279-3115, ext. 216
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/meiragtx-expands-neurodegenerative-gene-therapy-pipeline-in-alzheimers-and-parkinsons-disease-in-collaboration-with-weill-cornell-medicine-300376267.html
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