Opus’ programs focus on treatments for inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) which address mutations in genes that cause loss of vision, including bestrophinopathy, Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP).
OPGx-BEST1 is being developed for bestrophin-1 (BEST1)-related inherited retinal diseases or bestrophinopathies, a form of macular degeneration found primarily in adults, estimated to affect approximately one in 69,000 people in the U.S.
Bestrophinopathy is characterized by retinal lesions, with symptoms including dimness of vision, metamorphopsia (distorted vision) or scotoma (blind spot). OPGx-BEST1 leverages an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector to deliver a functional copy of the BEST1 gene to the retina so that bestrophin-1 protein is produced in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. This gene therapy approach aims to restore normal function of the RPE cells such that they can provide proper support to photoreceptors, the cells that detect light.
BEST1 disease is an inherited retinal disease that causes macular degeneration. The BEST1 gene encodes for bestrophin-1, a protein that functions as a retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell membrane channel. The BEST1 channel, when activated by calcium (Ca2+) ions, controls chloride (Cl-) ion transfer into and out of the RPE cell. This function is crucial to maintaining homeostasis between rod and cone photoreceptors and RPE cells. Mutations in BEST1 disrupt this homeostasis and result in the breakdown of the rod and cone interphotoreceptor matrix (cIPM) and microvilli (cMV) connection with the RPE. Retinal lesions form containing vitelliform material (“egg-yolk” like) between the RPE and Bruch’s membrane (BM)/choroid (CH). These vitelliform lesions disrupt and cause atrophy of the RPE. Without support from the RPE, photoreceptor cells critical for normal vision die, resulting in progressive vision loss.Opus is completing IND-enabling studies and anticipates filing an IND for OPGx-BEST1 in the second half of 2023.
Opus’s most advanced program, OPGx-LCA5, is designed to address mutations in the LCA5 gene, which encodes the lebercilin protein.
LCA5 is an early-onset retinal degeneration, that affects approximately one in 1.7 million people in the U.S. with evidence of a structural-functional dissociation which suggests an opportunity for therapeutic intervention. OPGx-LCA5 utilizes an AAV vector to deliver a functional LCA5 gene to photoreceptors in the retina. Preclinical data collected in animal and human iPSC models of the disease demonstrated preservation of visual function when OPGx-LCA5 was administered prior to peak disease severity, which suggests a broad therapeutic window for LCA5 patients.
Opus initiated a clinical trial for OPGx-LCA5 program in 2023. For more information, visit clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05616793).
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OPGx-RDH12 focuses on restoring protein expression and halting functional deterioration in patients with retinal dystrophy caused by mutations in the retinal dehydrogenase (RDH12) gene.
Patients with RDH12 mutations, which affect approximately one in 288,000 people in the U.S., often have early visual acuity loss with retinal structural changes by two years of age, and longitudinal studies have reported a steep decline in visual acuity within the second decade of life. OPGx-RDH12 leverages AAVs to transport a functional gene to photoreceptors in the retina. Preclinical studies of OPGx-RDH12 in cellular and mouse models have demonstrated functional improvement of RDH12 activity in mice with mutations in this gene.
Opus anticipates filing an IND for OPGx-RDH12 in the first half of 2024.
OPGx-NMNAT1 is a gene augmentation therapy designed to halt functional deterioration in pediatric patients with retinal degenerative disease caused by mutations in the nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyltransferase 1 (NMNAT1) gene, which affects one in 432,000 people in the U.S.
NMNAT1 is an enzyme required for regenerating an essential metabolite, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), in cell nuclei. Photoreceptors, in particular, are highly vulnerable to loss of NMNAT1 function. Preclinical data in a mouse model exhibiting key features of the human disease demonstrated the potential for OPGx-NMNAT1 delivered via AAV to stabilize disease progression.
Opus anticipates filing an IND for OPGx-NMNAT1 in 2025.
OPGx-RHO is a gene therapy that targets autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa caused by RHO mutations (RHO-adRP). RHO-adRP affects approximately one in 51,000 people in the U.S., making it one of the most common IRDs.
Encoded by the RHO gene, rhodopsin is an important component of the photopigment in rod photoreceptors that absorbs light and provides structure to the rod outer segment. Autosomal dominant mutations in rhodopsin cause RHO-adRP, which is characterized by progressive death of rod photoreceptors that can lead to vision loss. OPGx-RHO is designed to preserve rod photoreceptors by replacing a patient’s RHOgene with a functional copy of the gene.
OPGx-RHO is in preclinical development to support future submission of an IND.
