Multi-characteristic Opsin Gene Therapy Gets Second Fast Track for Retinal Degenerative Diseases
MCO-010 is in phase 2 clinical trials for treating retinitis pigmentosa and Stargardt disease.
The FDA has granted Fast Track designation to
"We are pleased to receive the FDA's decision to grant Fast Track Designation for the second indication of our vision restoring therapy, and we look forward to sharing 6-month data from the Phase 2 STARLIGHT clinical trial of MCO-010 therapy in Stargardt patients this quarter," Sulagna Bhattacharya, chief executive officer, Nanoscope, said in a statement.1 "Receiving Fast Track Designation reinforces the urgency of our mission to find an effective solution for Stargardt patients and is an acknowledgement of MCO-010's potential to address this unmet medical need."
Stargardt is the second indication that the gene-agnostic therapy MCO-010 is being evaluated for after retinitis pigmentosa (RP), which MCO-010 received fast track designation for treating in
READ MORE:
The therapy is also being investigated in advanced age-related macular degeneration with geographic atrophy, for which Nanoscope is planning to submit an investigational new drug application in the first half of 2023 to be able to initiate a phase 1/2a clinical trial in the second half of 2023. Other indications the company plans to target include Usher syndrome and cone rod dystrophy.
MCO-010 targets retinal degenerative diseases via gene delivery encoding for the ambient light-sensitive MCO protein into retinal cells. The therapy is delivered via intraocular injection and is designed to restore the ability of these retinal cells to detect light.
“We found that there is a need to develop a broadband opsin where patients in different lighting conditions can see this outside field,” Samarendra Mohanty, PhD, cofounder and president, Nanoscope Therapeutics, told CGTLive in a
REFERENCES
1. Nanoscope Therapeutics receives fast track designation by the FDA for MCO-010 for the treatment of Stargardt disease. News release. Nanoscope Therapeutics. January 30, 2023. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nanoscope-therapeutics-receives-fast-track-120000031.html
2. Nanoscope Therapeutics receives fast track designation by the FDA for MCO-010 for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa. News release. Nanoscope Therapeutics Inc. October 10, 2022.https://nanostherapeutics.com/2022/10/10/nanoscope-therapeutics-receives-fast-track-designation-by-the-fda-for-mco-010-for-the-treatment-of-retinitis-pigmentosa/
Newsletter
Stay at the forefront of cutting-edge science with CGT—your direct line to expert insights, breakthrough data, and real-time coverage of the latest advancements in cell and gene therapy.
Related Articles
- ImmunoLogic, Episode 6: "The Future of Personalized Cancer Vaccines”
September 15th 2025
- Top News in Lymphoma Cell Therapy for World Lymphoma Awareness Day 2025
September 15th 2025
- Duchenne Action Month 2025: Looking Back at News and Expert Insights
September 14th 2025
- CGTLive®’s Weekly Rewind – September 12, 2025
September 12th 2025