Technology ID
TAB-3611
Gene Therapy for Cobalamin C Deficiency (cblC) with Viable Mouse Models
E-Numbers
E-275-2015-0
E-275-2015-1
Lead Inventor
Venditti, Charles (NHGRI)
Co-Inventors
Sloan, Jennifer (NHGRI)
Applications
Therapeutics
Research Materials
Therapeutic Areas
Ophthalmology
Oncology
Neurology
Infectious Disease
Endocrinology
Dental
Cardiology
Lead IC
NHGRI
ICs
NHGRI
Cobalamin C deficiency (cblC) is the most common inborn error of intracellular cobalamin metabolism and is caused by mutations in MMACHC, a gene responsible for processing and trafficking dependent enzymes: intracellular cobalamin, resulting in elevated methylmalonic acid and homocysteine and methionine deficiency. Disease manifestations include growth failure, anemia, cardial defects and progressive blindness. NHGRI scientist have generated the first viable mouse models of cblC using TALEN mediated genome editing and created two specific mutants of MMACHC that manifested the cblC-related biochemical perturbations. AAV vectors, and new genes, such as the synthetic and tagged MMACHC genes have also been developed that may enable gene therapy treatment for vision loss experienced by the cblC patients and possibly engender substantial commercial interest. Results of pre-clinical efficacy studies demonstrate a promising therapy for cblC disorders.
Commercial Applications
These animal studies demonstrate that gene therapy could be used to treat human subjects with cobalamin C defect.
Competitive Advantages
The mouse models generated are viable, as compared with others that have been published. The AAV vectors, and new genes, such as the synthetic and tagged MMACHC genes, are also novel.
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