Chengdu Origen Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (“Chengdu Origen”) and Vanotech Ltd. (“Vanotech”) announced  the first patient dosed in the VAN-2401 multi-center Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating treatment with KH658 for patients with wet Age-related Macular Degeneration (wet AMD). This multi-center, open-label, dose-escalation clinical trial in the U.S. will assess the safety, tolerability and efficacy of KH658 as a single suprachoroidal space administration of gene therapy for patients with previously treated wet AMD.

KH658 is a recombinant adeno-associated virus vector that encodes a human VEGF receptor fusion protein. In preclinical studies of wet AMD disease models, suprachoroidal space administration of KH658 resulted in retention of the transgene product in the retina for prolonged periods and prevented the disease progression. These findings may indicate the potential of KH658 to offer a single administration treatment for wet AMD patients.

“Dosing our first patient in the VAN-2401 Phase 1 trial is an important milestone in the advancement of KH658 by exploring the potential of single suprachoroidal space administration of gene therapy as treatment for wet AMD. KH658 is designed to deliver anti-VEGF continuously to the retina, with the potential to provide sustained levels that can control the disease,” said Avner Ingerman, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Vanotech.

“I am excited to participate as a principal investigator in this important study. Dosing the first patient is an important milestone in the development of the single-administration gene therapy approach, which may hold promise to our patients in need of frequent treatment for their retinal diseases,” said Mark Barakat, M.D., a principal investigator in the VAN-2401 Phase 1 trial, Director of Research at Retina Macula Institute of Arizona in Scottsdale Arizona.