You are here

Improved Therapy for AMD

Award Information
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Branch: National Institutes of Health
Contract: 1R43EY019794-01A1
Agency Tracking Number: EY019794
Amount: $200,786.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: NEI
Solicitation Number: PHS2010-2
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2010
Award Year: 2010
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
PANORAMA RESEARCH, INC. 1230 BORDEAUX DRIVE
SUNNYVALE, CA 94089
United States
DUNS: 556962439
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 JIANMIN FANG
 () -
Business Contact
 ERIC HOANG
Phone: (408) 757-5201
Email: ops@pano.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Improved therapy for AMD Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of visual loss (http://www.nei.nih.gov/eyedata/pbd4.asp) affecting more than 1.75 million people in the USA. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a major driver of choroidal neovascularisation, a central process in the pathogenesis of wet AMD. FDA approval of inhibitors of VEGF has revolutionized therapy for this serious disease. However, such therapies require repeated, monthly injections and are associated with significant morbidity. We have developed an AAV-based inducible gene transfer system for local delivery of therapeutic antibodies (Fang, 2006, 2007). Preliminary work demonstrates tightly regulated, long-term (gt1 yr.), high level expression (gt1 mg/ml) of an antibody suitable for therapy of AMD. The overall goal of the present application is to utilize our rapamycin-regulated AAV system to deliver an anti-VEGF antibody into the eye. This novel therapeutic approach is expected to eliminate monthly injections, reduce neovascularization and curtail side effects (e.g. endophthalmitis) of present therapies. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Improved therapy for AMD Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of visual loss (http://www.nei.nih.gov/eyedata/pbd4.asp) affecting more than 1.75 million people in the USA. FDA approval of inhibitors of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has revolutionized therapy for this serious disease. However, such therapies require repeated, monthly injections that can have serious side effects. We have developed an improved therapy that will require only one treatment.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

US Flag An Official Website of the United States Government