IVIEW Therapeutics Announces Successful First-in-Human Treatment of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma with Novel Gene Therapy GVB-2001
iView Therapeutics
Ophthalmic Innovative Drug Developer
On December 18, iView Therapeutics (China subsidiary of IVIEW Therapeutics) announced that its self-developed innovative gene therapy drug GVB-2001 has successfully completedPrimary Open-Angle GlaucomaFirst Patient Treated. The treatment was led by Professor Peirong Lu, Director of the Ophthalmology Department at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University. The patient has completed a 2-week follow-up, with no drug-related adverse events reported, and intraocular pressure has shown a downward trend. This marks a critical step in the clinical application of this gene therapy, which is suitable for all patients with open-angle glaucoma.
GVB-2001 is a gene therapy candidate developed by iView Therapeutics for primary open-angle glaucoma. It is a gene therapy that does not require genetic background screening and is suitable for all patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. It utilizes an optimized self-complementary adeno-associated virus vector.By a single intracameral injection, therapeutic genes are precisely delivered to the core site of glaucoma pathogenesis —— the trabecular meshwork. This enhances aqueous humor outflow by modulating cellular function, achieving rapid and sustained intraocular pressure control. It intervenes in disease progression at the pathological mechanism level and reduces the risk of optic nerve damage from the root cause.
According to the press release by iView Therapeutics, GVB-2001 demonstrates three core breakthroughs compared to traditional treatment methods: First, it breaks the limitation of gene types, eliminating the need to differentiate between patients' gene mutation types, covering nearly 60 million patients with primary open-angle glaucoma globally, and addressing the pain point of the narrow applicability of existing targeted gene therapies. Second, it achieves long-term benefits with a single administration. Preclinical studies have confirmed its stable and long-lasting pressure-reducing effects, avoiding the issue of poor compliance associated with the lifelong use of traditional eye drops and reducing side effects such as ocular surface irritation caused by long-term medication. Third, it boasts high efficiency in targeted delivery, precisely acting on diseased tissues, reducing the risks of trauma and scar formation potentially caused by surgical treatments, and providing a new treatment option for refractory cases.
The first patient treated in this case had already lost light perception in the intervention eye and had undergone multiple previous anti-glaucoma surgeries, with persistently poor postoperative intraocular pressure control. This represents a clinically recognized refractory case. After undergoing rigorous clinical screening and ethical review, the patient recently received a single anterior chamber injection of GVB-2001. As of the 2-week postoperative follow-up, the patient demonstrated good ocular tolerance, with no drug-related adverse events observed, nor any significant safety concerns such as anterior chamber inflammation or sudden intraocular pressure spikes. Additionally, the patient’s intraocular pressure has shown a downward trend, raising hopes of gradually reducing dependence on multiple anti-intraocular pressure medications, signaling a positive outcome for subsequent treatment. The patient will continue to be closely monitored over the long term to assess the drug's safety, efficacy stability, and long-term benefits.
References:
[1] iView Therapeutics Press Release
