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Clinical Trials on Inherited Blindness May Include Patients from Middle East

DUBAI- A groundbreaking study in gene therapy for treating inherited blindness could include patients from the Middle East in its next phase, a leading expert said on Monday.

Robin Ali, Professor of Human Molecular Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology, was part of the UK research team that announced results from the world’s first clinical trial to test a revolutionary gene therapy treatment for a type of inherited blindness.

The results, published earlier this year, showed that the experimental treatment was safe and could improve sight.

The findings were a landmark for gene therapy technology and could have a significant impact on future treatments for eye disease.

Prof Ali, who was a key speaker at the Emirates Ophthalmology Conference 2008 held from November 20 to 22 in Dubai said, “The results indicated that light sensitivity in the treated eyeincreased by up to one thousand fold.

“The next phase of the study in 2009 will study nine patients and increase the dose of the genetic material administered to patients.

“Future patients in the trials could include those from the Middle East, subject to the logistics of travel and the time commitment required to complete the batteries of tests,” he added.

Professor Ali explained that the trial results took 14 years in the making; with the first five years spent on developing the technology to deliver genes to the eye and the next five devoted to proof of concept studies.

“The first trial was undertaken in 2007 and the first results were published in 2008,” he explained.

Sight loss has a devastating effect on people’s lives and until recently there was no hope for people with degenerative diseases of the retina.

Blindness is thought to be the biggest cause of disability in the UAE and hereditary eye disease is the major cause of blindness inchildren here, according to Foresight, a UAE-based non-profit organisation and a branch of Tamkeen.

The latest trial results provide even greater levels of confidence in the technique.

“The new results suggest that the potential for gene therapy, even for the most severe cases of retinal degeneration, is even greater than I believed just a few months ago,” said Professor Ali.

Dr Chris Canning, CEO and Medical Director of Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, added: “Professor Ali’s recent ground breaking developments with human clinical trials in gene therapy suggest that these results justify support for the development of gene therapies for a wide range of eye disorders bringing new hope to millions of people.

asmaalizain@khalejtimes.com