MCO-010 Optogenetic Therapy Shows 3-Year Vision Improvement in Retinitis Pigmentosa

MCO-010, an optogenetic therapy, has demonstrated the ability to improve vision in patients with retinitis pigmentosa over a three-year period. These findings were presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting.

The treatment utilizes an optogenetic approach to address retinal disease. This method focuses on restoring light sensitivity to retinal cells by delivering a synthetic protein, according to Vinit B. Mahajan, MD, PhD, a retina specialist at Stanford University.

Developed by Nanoscope Therapeutics, MCO-010 is described as being gene-agnostic. This characteristic distinguishes the therapy from treatments that target specific genetic mutations.

Because the therapy is gene-agnostic, it does not require the identification of a specific genetic driver of the disease to be effective. Regarding the scope of the treatment, Mahajan stated We’re not picking a specific [form of] retinitis pigmentosa (RP).