Endogena testing therapy to combat inherited blindness

Endogena Therapeutics is testing its lead product against slow, progressive retinal degeneration that can lead to blindness. The life sciences firm based in Los Angeles, California, has now treated its first retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patient as part of a Phase 1/2a study, further details of which can be found in a press release.

Endogena forms part of the Rejuveron Life Sciences consortium, which operates out of its lab facilities at Bio-Technopark Schlieren-Zurich and the JLABS innovation incubator from Johnson & Johnson, which is based in Toronto in the Canadian province of Ontario.

RP is one of the leading causes of inherited blindness, for which there is no treatment for the majority of those affected (estimated to be around 1.5 million people around the world). Endogena’s innovative small-molecule approach activates the body’s own retinal stem and progenitor cells, which then differentiate into photoreceptors. In this way, a patient’s visual function can potentially be preserved or restored. “For the first time, we’re able to offer real hope to RP patients”, explains Matthias Steger, CEO of Endogena, in the press release.

The Endogena drug discovery platform, which is based on Artificial Intelligence (AI), targets therapies for degenerative diseases associated with aging and genetic disorders. Among other aspects, preclinical studies are to be launched imminently for a drug aimed at treating dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).