Luxturna Archives - Insight

Funding for Luxturna following MSAC recommendation

Staff Writer — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 02:42:41 +0000

The therapy delivers a working copy of the mutated gene to begin producing proteins essential for sight.

Luxturna has become the first gene therapy to receive government funding in Australia, in a landmark decision that will see the treatment jointly funded by federal and state governments. Novartis announced
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Sydney surgeon details first Luxturna gene therapy allowing patient to see stars

Myles Hume — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 21:00:24 +0000

A/Prof Matthew Simunovic performing Australia's first procedure with an approved ocular gene therapy.

The vitreoretinal surgeon who performed Australia’s first Luxturna gene therapy has described the intricacy of the procedure, while hailing the team effort that has resulted in profound vision improvements
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Siblings treated with Luxturna gene therapy in Australian first (video included)

Myles Hume — Sun, 10 Oct 2021 22:46:31 +0000

Luxturna being delivered to one of the recipients via a subretinal injection. Image: A/Prof Matthew Simunovic

Teenage siblings from Sydney with an inherited retinal disease have become the first in Australia to receive the Luxturna ocular gene therapy. Those involved with delivering the novel treatment say it
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Building Australia’s gene therapy capability

Staff Writer — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 05:20:37 +0000

Dr Tom Edwards says surgical skill is only part of the equation to bring more gene therapy trials to Australia.

The rapidly evolving field of gene therapy offers a unique opportunity for Australian eye surgeons and scientists to join forces and lead the world in preventing blindness. Until recently, patients
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Rewriting eye disease: Are we ready for gene therapies?

Myles Hume — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 01:54:57 +0000

In 2020, ophthalmology became the first medical field in Australia to secure approval for a gene therapy. The one-off treatment can restore vision in people once resigned to a lifetime of blindness
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Aussie IRD study taps into gene therapy perceptions

Myles Hume — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 21:50:18 +0000

A/Prof Heather Mack says rapid advances in gene therapy are creating exciting possibilities for IRD patients.

Researchers from the Centre for Eye Research Australia and University of Melbourne have developed a world-first survey to gather the views of Australians with inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) on potential
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2020: a year like no other

rhiannon bowman — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 22:33:40 +0000

Insight takes a look at the innovations, breakthroughs, setbacks, events and stories that shaped the Australian ophthalmic sector in 2020. 2020 has been a tough year for the nation
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Race to identify inherited retinal disease patients for gene therapies

Myles Hume — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 02:55:47 +0000

With over 300 known IRD genes, Dr Lauren Ayton says specific mutations need to be known for many therapies.

Australian researchers are using genetic testing to identify as many people as possible with inherited retinal disease (IRD), in preparation for an influx of life-changing gene and stem cell therapies
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Reflections on a presidency

Staff Writer — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 01:02:28 +0000

A/Prof Heather Mack says rapid advances in gene therapy are creating exciting possibilities for IRD patients.

Two years has passed quickly and I will hand over to Associate Professor Nitin Verma on 10 October 2020. My learning curve was steep as RANZCO faced many challenges including Australian Medical Council
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TGA approves Luxturna gene therapy

Myles Hume — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 23:29:58 +0000

Novartis secured Australian regulatory approval for the gene therapy on 5 August.

In a historical development for the eye health sector, the Therapeutics Goods Administration (TGA) has approved the country’s first true gene therapy, indicated for a rare form of inherited retinal disease
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