Relevance of the identification and characterization of deep-intronic mutations

Genes are DNA sequences that contain information for the synthesis of proteins and they are composed of exonic and intronic sequences. The exons possess the information used for the protein synthesis, whereas the introns, although they do not contain information translated into protein, they play an important role to ensure their correct formation. Each gene […]

CERKL a Retinitis Pigmentosa gene and a suggestive therapy target

Inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs) are a broad group of neurodegenerative disorders associated with reduced or deteriorating visual system. In the retina, cells are under constant oxidative stress due to several environmental factors, particularly light exposure and physiological stress, making photoreceptors and retinal ganglion cells more susceptible to cell death. Inherited mutations in relevant genes that […]

RD2018 Congress discloses new advances and upcoming therapies for Retinal Dystrophies

In September 2018 two relevant meetings related to ocular diseases, the RD2018 International Symposium on Retinal Degeneration and the ISER (International Society for Eye Research) Conference, have taken place in Ireland. In particular, the RD2018 meeting, in which the DBGen team presented two contributions, has focused on the latest advances in genetic diagnosis, disease mechanisms […]

Small chaperones to treat retinitis pigmentosa

Rhodopsin is the main photopigment in rods. Many mutations in the rhodopsin gene translate into a misfolded nonfunctional protein that is toxic, thus causing photoreceptor death and premature retinitis pigmentosa. Many research groups are looking for therapeutic approaches to treat this type of untreatable retinal dystrophy, for instance by CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. Nonetheless, a group […]

Latest article from our research about genetic diagnosis of patients with complex retinal dystrophy and ocular phenotypes

Some patients show complex blended phenotypes that combine retinal dystrophy with other ocular disorders. In these cases, the genetic diagnosis via massive sequencing performed by our team in collaboration with clinicians was instrumental to identify the causative retinal dystrophy mutations plus additional genetic variants that also impacted on the phenotype. Thus, multi-Mendelian phenotypes previously ascribed […]

LUXTURNA, made available to European patients by Novartis

Spark Therapeutics enters into a licensing agreement with the big pharmaceutical company Novartis to commercialize LUXTURNA, the first gene therapy treatment approved for inherited retinal dystrophies, in Europe. LUXTURNA is addressed to patients suffering from Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) caused by mutations in the RPE65 gene. This one-time gene therapy consists of a subretinal microinjection of therapeutic adenoassociated virus that contain a […]

LUXTURNA- The first one-time gene therapy treatment for an inherited retinal blindness is approved for use in the US

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration de EEUU) has just approved the first gene therapy treatment for inherited retinal dystrophies that targets a rare disease caused by mutations in a specific gene (precision medicine). After successful clinical trials, FDA has granted LUXTURNA to Spark Therapeutics. With a cost around 850.000 $ (two eyes treatment), LUXTURNA is addressed […]