Ray Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing optogenetic gene therapies for vision restoration, announced it has been awarded an $8 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). This grant will support the company’s ongoing clinical development of RTx-015 for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a progressive and debilitating inherited retinal disease that leads to blindness.
Ray Therapeutics’ approach utilizes an optimized optogenetic gene therapy to deliver light-sensitive proteins to the retina of the eye, restoring visual function to patients with RP, regardless of genetic causes. And Ray Therapeutics’ gene therapy program received a unanimous vote of support from CIRM’s scientific and patient advocate reviewers.
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“Retinitis pigmentosa remains a devastating condition with no approved treatments for the vast majority of patients. We are deeply grateful to CIRM for their belief in our science and their continued support of our programs. We are honored to partner with CIRM as we advance therapies that have the potential to transform the lives of patients.”
Paul Bresge, CEO & Co-Founder, Ray Therapeutics
“Restoring vision is one of the most powerful ways we can improve quality of life. Ray Therapeutics is advancing a potential breakthrough treatment for a high unmet medical need for people in California and around the world with advanced RP, for whom there are currently no treatment options. We are proud to support this exciting program.”
Jonathan Thomas, PhD, JD, President and CEO, CIRM
