Ark Therapeutics, an Anglo-Finnish company announced that its was granted a permission to supply it's gene therapy drug Cerepro to named patients in Finland. Previously the company had obtained a similar approval for named patients in France after a submission by a local neurosurgeon.
Ark is expected to receive MAA decision from EMEA later this year and possibly become a first company to market gene therapy drugs in EU:
Oxford, UK – 29 April 2009: Oxford BioMedica (LSE: OXB) announced today that it has entered into a new collaboration with sanofi-aventis to develop novel gene-based medicines, utilising the Company’s LentiVector® gene delivery technology, for the treatment of ocular diseases. Oxford BioMedica will receive an upfront payment of US$26 million (£18 million) and committed funding of up to a further US$24 million (£16 million) over three years. In addition, sanofi-aventis has an exclusive option for a worldwide licence to develop and commercialise four ocular products.
Scientists at Schepens Eye Research Institute have found that the growth factor known as TGF-beta is essential to the health of blood vessels in the retina and that blocking it can cause retinal dysfunction. These findings, published in the April 2 issue of PLoS ONE, may have an important impact on the prevention and treatment of diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration.
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