Gene therapy | |
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Target gene | RPE65 |
Vector | Adeno-associated virus serotype 2 |
Nucleic acid type | DNA |
Clinical data | |
Trade names | Luxturna |
Other names | voretigene neparvovec-rzyl |
AHFS/Drugs.com | Professional Drug Facts |
License data | |
Pregnancy category |
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Routes of administration | Subretinal injection |
ATC code | |
Legal status | |
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Identifiers | |
CAS Number | |
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KEGG |
Voretigene neparvovec, sold under the brand name Luxturna, is a gene therapy medication for the treatment of Leber congenital amaurosis. [4]
Leber's congenital amaurosis, or biallelic RPE65-mediated inherited retinal disease, is an inherited disorder causing progressive blindness. Voretigene is the first treatment available for this condition. [7] The gene therapy is not a cure for the condition, but substantially improves vision in those treated. [8] It is given as a subretinal injection.
Voretigene neparvovec was approved for medical use in the United States in December 2017, [9] in Australia in August 2020, [10] in Canada in October 2020, [11] and in Switzerland in February 2020. [12] It is the first in vivo gene therapy approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). [13]
Voretigene neparvovec is indicated for the treatment of people with vision loss due to inherited retinal dystrophy caused by confirmed biallelic RPE65 mutations and who have sufficient viable retinal cells. [6]
Voretigene neparvovec is an AAV2 vector containing human RPE65 cDNA with a modified Kozak sequence. The virus is grown in HEK 293 cells and purified for administration. [14]
It was developed by Spark Therapeutics and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. [15] [16] [17]
It was granted orphan drug designation for Leber congenital amaurosis and retinitis pigmentosa. [18] [19] A biologics license application was submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July 2017 with Priority Review. [7] Phase III clinical trial results were published in August 2017. [20] On 12 October 2017, a key advisory panel to the FDA, composed of 16 experts, unanimously recommended approval of the treatment. [21] The FDA approved the drug in December 2017. [9] [5] With the approval, Spark Therapeutics received a pediatric disease priority review voucher. [22]
The first commercial sale of voretigene neparvovec, which was also the first sale of any gene therapy product in the United States, occurred in March 2018. [23] [13] The price of the treatment at the time was announced as being $425,000 per eye. [24]