THE EYE: IMMUNE PRIVILEGE & CHALLENGES
8:00 am Chair’s Opening Remarks
8:10 am Landscape of Ocular Gene Therapy Immunogenicity & Vector Strategies to Overcome Inflammation
Synopsis
• Viral vectors elicit dose-dependent intraocular inflammation
• Managing immunogenicity is critical for achieving successful gene therapies
• Vector-based approaches should be utilized to mitigate inflammation
8:20 am Retinitis Pigmentosa to Dry AMD: A Clinical Update on Optogenetic Therapy
Synopsis
• Demonstrating the safety of optogenetic gene therapy in advanced retinal degenerations
• Describing the initial efficacy data
• Positioning such therapies in the spectrum of emerging therapies for retinal degenerations
8:40 am Host Immunity after Suprachoroidal AAV in Nonhuman Primates
Synopsis
• Highlight novel use of suprachoroidal microneedles for AAV delivery
• Review transgene expression from different routes of AAV administration
• Explain host immune privilege and responses related to retinal gene therapy
• Discuss how AAV biodistribution may impact host immune response
9:00 am Q&A Panel Discussion
9:30 am Morning Break
VECTOR DESIGN & NON-VIRAL VECTORS TO IMPROVE RETINAL SELECTIVITY
10:30 am Machine Guided Capsid Engineering for Ocular Diseases
Synopsis
• Machine-guided capsid engineering represents a new approach to overcome the current challenges of in vivo gene delivery
• This approach combines three advanced technologies: i. next-gen library synthesis, ii. next-gen sequencing, and iii. machine learning
• With this workflow the search for improved capsids can be dramatically accelerated
10:50 am Non-Viral Vectors for Lower Cost Manufacturing & Immune Mitigation
Synopsis
• Eyevensys technology offers major advantages such as safety, flexibility, low cost and sustained but controllable and transitory protein production
• No limit in gene size and possible multiple protein expression
• Large pipeline for major ocular diseases
• Has shown safety and feasibility in humans and promising signs of efficacy
11:10 am Retinal Gene Therapy: Novel Vector Technologies
Synopsis
• Providing an overview on remaining key challenges in retinal gene therapy and introducing ViGeneron’s approach to address key challenges
• Introducing the vgAAV vector technology, which supports less invasive intravitreal delivery
• Discussing the REVeRT dual AAV technology for efficient delivery of large genes
11:20 am Q&A Panel Discussion
12:00 pm Lunch & Networking
ADDRESSING NEW INDICATIONS WITH NOVEL APPROACHES FOR LONG TERM EXPRESSION & RETINAL DISTRIBUTION
1:00 pm Gene Agnostic Approaches Targeting Later Stage Diseases for Photoreceptor Function
Synopsis
• Investigational Gene Agnostic Approaches to Preserve or Restore Cone Function in Inherited Retinal Disease
• Explore the concept of gene agnostic gene therapy for inherited retinal disease
• Mechanisms for RDCVF and GIRK2 strategies for gene agnostic approaches
• Preclinical data and next steps
1:20 pm First Four Patients in Bionic Sight’s Optogenetic Gene Therapy Trial Detect Light & Motion
Synopsis
• Optogenetic gene therapy can target a broad range of retinal degenerative diseases
• Combining the gene therapy with a neural coding device
• Sharing current result
• Discussion of mechanism(s) of action
1:40 pm The Potential of Intravitreal Human Retinal Progenitor Cells (hRPCs) in Inherited Retinal Disorders
Synopsis
• Exploring key unmet medical needs in inherited retinal disorders
• Discussing our intravitreal hRPC development program and recent data
• Reflecting on key learnings from building an advanced therapy organization
2:00 pm Q&A Panel Discussion
2:30 pm Panel: Discussing Pharma Partnering & Collaboration: Challenges & Opportunities
3:00 pm Afternoon Break
RARE VS COMMON DISORDERS PATIENT POPULATIONS: CLINICAL CHALLENGES & REGULATION
3:30 pm Lumevoq Gene Therapy in Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON): Regulatory Considerations: US & Europe Regulators
Synopsis
• LHON disease and its main clinical aspects
• Walking through late stage development of Lumevoq gene therapy
• Discussing regulatory pathways
• Highlighting key learnings
3:50 pm Understanding the Pre-Clinical Regulators’ Expectations for Gene Therapy Trials
Synopsis
• Introducing the regulatory frame
• Proof of concept studies
• Regulatory tox studies
• Risk based approach
4:10 pm Session Reserved for Foundation Fighting Blindness
Synopsis
• Talk details to follow
4:30 pm Q&A Panel Discussion
5:00 pm Chair’s Closing Remarks
