The European Medicines Agency has delivered a positive opinion recommending use of a new gene therapy, Luxturna (voretigene neparvovec), to treat adults and children suffering from an inherited retinal dystrophy caused by mutations in the RPE65 gene.

The disease causes vision loss that usually leads to blindness. There is currently no treatment for the disorder. Support to patients is limited to measures allowing disease management such as wearing a medical identification bracelet.

Novo Nordisk A/S is reorganising its research organisation to accelerate the development of novel therapies for serious chronic diseases. The move represents a shift away from traditional insulin products and into, among other things, cardio-metabolic and stem cell research.