UCL announces the launch of gene therapy company Athena Vision

Athena Vision is focused on developing gene therapies for eye diseases based on research conducted at UCL. UCL Business PLC, the wholly-owned technology transfer company of UCL, today announced the formation of Athena Vision Limited, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of gene therapies to treat a range of devastating eye diseases causing blindness. Athena has entered into a global partnership with MeiraGTx Limited to develop and commercialise Athena's ocular gene therapy programmes arising from research conducted by Professor Robin Ali, Head of the Department of Genetics at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and a leader in the field of cell and gene therapy for the eye. MeiraGTx, which is developing gene therapies for ocular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders and other diseases, will advance Athena's pipeline of gene therapies through clinical trials to commercialisation. The partnership will pursue four initial clinical programmes in inherited retinal conditions: Leber congenital amaurosis type 2 (LCA2) caused by deficiencies in RPE65, achromatopsia caused by mutations in CNGB3 or CNGA3 and X-linked retinitis pigmentosa caused by mutations in RPGR. A Phase I/II dose-escalation clinical trial in LCA2 is expected to start in 1Q 2016. Development costs for all four programmes are supported by an undisclosed upfront payment by MeiraGTx.