Background

30% of all glaucoma patients do not have any therapy options. Current therapies are focused on symptom relief (i.e. reduction of eye pressure) rather than disease correction Medication compliance is complicated, and adherence among glaucoma patients is poor (<35%). UMass Chan researchers have created a treatment that actually treats and corrects Glaucoma with the AAV2-sFasL gene therapy.

Technology Overview

AAV2-sFasL gene therapy prevents axon degeneration and retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death in chronic and inducible models of glaucoma. These effects occur independent of intraocular pressure (IOP). Importantly, the AAV2-sFasL treatment works even after disease onset.

In three independent mouse models of glaucoma, mice that express only mFasL exhibit accelerated RGC death. In contrast, Fas or FasL deficiency, or administration