For people with geographic atrophy, also known as advanced dry age-related macular degeneration, slowing vision loss is at the top of the list in terms of goals. Treatments like SYOFOVRE (pegcetacoplan) and IZERVAY (avacincaptad pegol) can be used to slow progression. However, at this time, geographic atrophy has no cure and the damage caused is irreversible.
Biotechnology company Ocugen, Inc. is working to develop a gene therapy solution to restore retinal integrity and function. This solution? OCU410 (AAV-hRORA). Ocugen describes OCU410 as a gene therapy that delivers a functional copy of the RORA gene to the retina. This gene is anti-inflammatory and plays a role in lipid metabolism. Ocugen also believes, based on preclinical studies, that OCU410 may play a role in reducing oxidative stress.
In mid-April 2024, Ocugen shared that dosing was complete in the second cohort of the Phase 1/2 ArMaDa study evaluating OCU410 for geographic atrophy. Participants received one 200mL subretinal dose of 5×1010 vg/mL OCU410. Data from this cohort will be available later this year.
What is Geographic Atrophy?
Prevent Blindness explains that geographic atrophy is an advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration, a disease that affects the part of the eye called the macula. The macula is a specialized area in the retina that plays a role in central vision (reading, driving, facial recognition), discerning fine details, and visual acuity. Geographic atrophy occurs when areas of the retina atrophy (die). These atrophied reasons may look like a map when being examined by physicians, hence the name. Geographic atrophy can affect one or both eyes. But once you have geographic atrophy in one eye, you are more likely to develop it in the other.
An estimated 1 million people in the US, and 8 million people globally, have this disease. Your risk of developing this condition increases if:
- You have a family history of age-related macular degeneration.
- You’re 60 years old or older.
- You are Caucasian.
- You’ve experienced high sun exposure throughout your life.
- You are obese, have high blood pressure, or have high cholesterol.
- Your diet is not great and does not include many fruits or dark, green, leafy vegetables.
- You have diabetes or heart disease.
- Your eyes are light colored.
- You smoke cigarettes.
Symptoms of this eye disease may include loss of visual acuity, a dark spot in your central vision, difficulty seeing in dim light, colors losing vibrancy, numbers/letters disappearing when reading, or difficulty reading, driving, doing crafts, or performing any other tasks that require central vision.
Learn more about geographic atrophy here.
