AGTC and the Foundation Fighting Blindness Announce Partnership Agreement
August 15 2017 - 7:00AM
Applied Genetics Technology Corporation (NASDAQ:AGTC), a
biotechnology company conducting human clinical trials of
adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapies for the treatment
of rare diseases, and the Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB)
announced today a partnership agreement to support the
organizations’ shared mission to advance gene therapy research to
treat inherited retinal diseases.
“We are grateful to AGTC for its continued support of the
Foundation,” says Valerie Navy-Daniels, FFB’s chief development
officer. “AGTC’s support will allow us to bring information about
the advancements in treating inherited retinal diseases to more
people and in doing so helps us get closer to our goal of bringing
hope to people affected by these blinding conditions.”
Under the terms of the agreement, AGTC will provide grant
funding to support the Foundation’s My Retina Tracker® registry as
well as a genetic testing study designed to identify barriers that
are preventing greater patient participation in genetic testing.
With AGTC’s support, additional registry participants who have been
diagnosed with X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS), X-linked retinitis
pigmentosa (XLRP) or achromatopsia will have the opportunity to
receive a genetic test to support their diagnosis and determine
their potential eligibility for one of the AGTC sponsored gene
therapy clinical trials.
My Retina Tracker is an online, confidential patient registry
for people affected by inherited retinal diseases. The registry
collects data with the intention of using the aggregated knowledge
to advance research and to help accelerate clinical trial
enrollment by providing a source of information about people
affected by retinal diseases. The registry is free for people
affected by inherited orphan retinal diseases, and is designed with
state-of-the-art technology to protect user privacy. To learn more
about My Retina Tracker, visit www.MyRetinaTracker.org or contact
the registry’s coordinator at coordinator@MyRetinaTracker.org.
"We are proud to extend our collaboration with the Foundation
Fighting Blindness as they share our mission to develop treatments
for individuals with inherited retinal diseases," said Sue Washer,
President and CEO of AGTC. "FFB’s early support of AGTC’s research
efforts helped us advance our gene therapy candidates into clinical
trials that have the potential to improve the lives of patients.
The FFB’s profound impact on the landscape for those suffering from
inherited retinal diseases is evidenced by the creation of their
registry, My Retina Tracker, which will deliver genetic data that
is vital to the evolution of gene-based therapies."
AGTC will be a Silver Level Outreach Partner during the
Foundation’s current fiscal year. As a Silver Outreach Partner,
AGTC will help fund FFB Vision Seminars and Chapter meetings
nationwide. In November, AGTC will provide additional support for
FFB’s Boston VisionWalk as a Community Captain for that
event.
AGTC is currently scheduling patients for enrollment in clinical
trials for XLRS as well as for achromatopsia caused by mutations in
the CNGB3 and CNGA3 genes. The company also plans to initiate a
clinical study evaluating the safety and efficacy of its
proprietary gene therapy for X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP)
caused by mutations in the RPGR gene in the United States in the
coming months. Patients and caregivers interested in participating
in or learning about AGTC's current and upcoming clinical trials
may visit www.agtc.com/patients-and-caregivers or
e-mail advocacy@agtc.com.
About AGTC
AGTC is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that uses its
proprietary gene therapy platform to develop products designed to
transform the lives of patients with severe diseases, with an
initial focus in ophthalmology. AGTC's lead product candidates are
designed to treat inherited orphan diseases of the eye, caused by
mutations in single genes that significantly affect visual function
and currently lack effective medical treatments.
AGTC's product pipeline includes ophthalmology programs in XLRS,
XLRP, achromatopsia, wet age-related macular degeneration, and an
optogenetics program with Bionic Sight. AGTC's non-ophthalmology
programs include its adrenoleukodystrophy program and its otology
program, which is in pre-clinical development, and the company
expects to advance several otology product candidates into clinical
development in the next few years. Each of AGTC's XLRS, XLRP and
adrenoleukodystrophy programs is part of its collaboration and
license agreement with Biogen. AGTC employs a highly-targeted
approach to selecting and designing its product candidates,
choosing to develop therapies for indications having high unmet
medical need that it believes are clinically feasible and present
commercial opportunities. AGTC has a significant intellectual
property portfolio and extensive expertise in the design of gene
therapy products including capsids, promoters and expression
cassettes, as well as, expertise in the formulation, manufacture
and physical delivery of gene therapy products.
About the Foundation Fighting Blindness
Since the Foundation Fighting Blindness was established in 1971
it has raised more than $700 million toward its mission to prevent,
treat and cure blindness caused by inherited retinal diseases. In
excess of 10 million Americans, and millions more worldwide,
experience vision loss due to retinal degenerations. Through its
support of focused and innovative science, and by teaming with
industry, the Foundation drives the research that has and will
continue to provide treatments and cures for people affected by
retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, Usher syndrome and
other inherited retinal diseases. Our goal is to advance the
most promising retinal disease research in the world and across the
spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases. You can
help. Every donation moves us closer to a cure. Learn more
about the Foundation at www.fightblindness.org.
CORPORATE CONTACTS:
Foundation Fighting Blindness
Rhea Farberman
Deputy Chief Development Officer
T: 410 423-0635
RFarberman@FightBlindness.org
Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation
Stephen Potter
Chief Business Officer
T: (617) 413-2754
spotter@agtc.com
AGTC IR/PR CONTACTS:
David Carey (IR)
Lazar Partners Ltd.
T: (212) 867-1768
dcarey@lazarpartners.com
Lazar Partners for AGTC (PR)
T: (212) 867-1762
AGTC_PR@lazarpartners.com
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