Nanoscope Therapeutics Inc. acquires a license for the CatCh technology
This patented technology is designed to enhance the light sensitivity of a multi-characteristic opsin developed by Nanoscope as a gene therapy.
(Image credit: AdobeStock/K silver)
Nanoscope Therapeutics Inc. has acquired a license for the CatCh technology from Max Planck Innovation. This patented technology is designed to enhance the light sensitivity of a multi-characteristic opsin (MCO-010, a tri-protein fusion complex including CatCh) developed by Nanoscope as a gene therapy to restore vision in patients suffering from genetically caused visual impairments.1
Nanoscope has already successfully completed several clinical studies on MCO-010 for the 2 leading inherited retinal degenerative diseases: retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and Stargardt disease. The company now plans to seek approval for the therapy and expand to broad therapeutic indications.1
Dr. Samarendra Mohanty, Co-Founder & President of Nanoscope Therapeutics, expressed thoughts on this step in development in the company's press release1, saying, "We are excited to see the enhanced benefits of the MCO platform, which incorporates the CatCh technology from the Max Planck Institute for Biophysics, and offers new hope for restoring vision in those suffering from severe degenerative retinal conditions," said "Our agreement with Max Planck Innovation allows us to transform groundbreaking scientific discoveries into effective therapeutic solutions. With efficient viral delivery of the most complex bioengineered non-mammalian MCO-010 fusion protein to treat severe degenerative retinal conditions caused by many different genetic mutations, we are on the cusp of treating patients with high unmet needs and sustainably improving their quality of life."
Dr. Mareike Göritz, Patent and Licensing manager at Max Planck Innovation, added to this conversation, saying, "The advanced properties of CatCh in combination with Nanoscope's proprietary technology make this a very promising approach for gene therapy treatment of retinitis-related visual impairments. We are excited to follow the further development and would be delighted if patients were ultimately to benefit from this innovative approach."1
Therapeutic application and clinical testing
The now-licensed CatCh technology has been integrated by Nanoscope Therapeutics as one of three subunits of the MCO-010 fusion protein, each of which contributes complementary light-activated properties, that together result in a treatment with the potential to restore vision in everyday settings. Additionally, the MCO platform is already being tested and shown to be effective in non-human primates with geographic atrophies (GA) secondary to advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD).1
The further development and approval pathway for MCO-010 is currently being intensively reviewed. Nanoscope Therapeutics aims to obtain approval and is in discussions with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to explore possible accelerated pathways to market.1
The CatCh (calcium-transporting channelrhodopsin) technology was developed by Prof. Ernst Bamberg, one of the pioneers in the field of optogenetics, and his colleagues at the Max Planck Institute for Biophysics. CatCh, a mutant of Channelrhodopsin-2 with improved properties, offers significant advantages such as faster kinetics and increased blue light sensitivity.1
