Gene therapy for inherited retinal diseases

Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) are a genetically variable collection of devastating disorders that lead to significant visual impairment. Advances in genetic characterization over the past two decades have allowed identification of over 260 causative mutations associated with inherited retinal disorders. Thought to be incurable, gene supplementation therapy offers great promise in treating various forms of these blinding conditions. In gene replacement therapy, a disease-causing gene is replaced with a functional copy of the gene. These therapies are designed to slow disease progression and hopefully restore visual function. Gene therapies are typically delivered to target retinal cells by subretinal (SR) or intravitreal (IVT) injection. The historic Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of voretigene neparvovec for RPE65-associated Leber’s congenital amaurosis (LCA) spurred tremendous optimism surrounding retinal gene therapy for various other monogenic IRDs. Novel disease-causing mutations continue to be discovered annually, and targeted genetic therapy is now under development in clinical and preclinical models for many IRDs. Numerous clinical trials for other IRDs are ongoing or have recently completed. Disorders being targeted for genetic therapy include retinitis pigmentosa (RP), choroideremia (CHM), achromatopsia (ACHM), Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy, usher syndrome (USH), X-linked retinoschisis, and Stargardt disease. Here, we provide an update of completed, ongoing, and planned clinical trials using gene supplementation strategies for retinal degenerative disorders.