J&J-partnered MeiraGTx aims at Biogen with new eye gene therapy data

Several months after Biogen touted the first proof-of-concept data from its $800 million eye gene therapy, MeiraGTx and J&J are out with their own early data for a rival treatment.

In a small Phase I/II trial for their gene therapy for the degenerative eye disease x-linked retinitis pigmentosa, MeiraGTx found that the 7 patients in the two lowest dose cohorts saw their vision improve on multiple measures for 6 months. The study will provide the basis for the New York biotech to move into a pivotal Phase III for the gene therapy that J&J paid $100 million to get in on last year.