GAINESVILLE, Fla., Sept. 29, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation (Nasdaq:AGTC), a clinical stage biotechnology company developing adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapies for the treatment of rare eye diseases, today announced that company management will present at two upcoming conferences.
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Targeting Ocular Disorders on Tuesday, October 7, 2014 at 1:55pm ET in Boston. Sue Washer, President and CEO will lead a session entitled, "AAV-Based Gene Therapy for Genetic Ocular Diseases." Ms. Washer will discuss the proven safety and efficacy of AAV-based gene therapy for the treatment of ocular disorders, as well as current investigational AAV-based therapies for indications such as X-linked Retinoschisis (XLRS), Achromatopsia (ACHM) and X-linked Retinitis Pigmentosa (XLRP).
- Alliance for Regenerative Medicine 2014 Stem Cell Meeting on the Mesa 4th Annual Partnering Forum in La Jolla, California. On Tuesday, October 7th, 2014 at 4:00pm PT (7:00pm ET), Dan Menichella, Vice President and Chief Business Officer will represent AGTC on the program's featured financing panel, entitled "Coming of Age: How Do We Sustain Investor Interest in Advanced Therapies Over the Long Term?" On Wednesday, October 8th, 2014 at 2:15pm PT (5:15pm ET), Dan will provide a corporate overview discussing the company's lead programs in ophthalmology.
About AGTC
AGTC is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that uses its proprietary gene therapy platform to develop products designed to transform the lives of patients with severe inherited orphan diseases in ophthalmology. AGTC's lead product candidates, which are each in the preclinical stage, focus on X-linked retinoschisis, achromatopsia and X-linked retinitis pigmentosa, which are rare diseases of the eye, caused by mutations in single genes, that significantly affect visual function and currently lack effective medical treatments.
About X-linked Retinoschisis (XLRS)
XLRS is an inherited retinal disease caused by mutations in the RS1 gene, which encodes the retinoschisin protein. It is characterized by abnormal splitting of the layers of the retina, resulting in poor visual acuity in young boys, which can progress to legal blindness in adult men.
About Achromatopsia (ACHM)
ACHM is an inherited retinal disease, which is present from birth and is characterized by the lack of cone photoreceptor function. The condition results in markedly reduced visual acuity light sensitivity causing day blindness, and complete loss of color discrimination. Best-corrected visual acuity in persons affected by ACHM, even under subdued light conditions, is usually about 20/200, a level at which people are considered legally blind.
About X-linked Retinitis Pigmentosa (XLRP)
XLRP is an inherited condition that causes boys to develop night blindness by the time they are ten and progresses to legal blindness by their early forties.