Nanoscope Therapeutics Announces World Health Organization Selection of “Sonpiretigene Isteparvovec” as International Nonproprietary Name for MCO-010

Nanoscope Therapeutics Announces World Health Organization Selection of “Sonpiretigene Isteparvovec” as International Nonproprietary Name for MCO-010

DALLAS, Feb. 28, 2023  — Nanoscope Therapeutics Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing gene therapies for retinal degenerative diseases, today announced that the International Nonproprietary Names (INN) Expert Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) has selected “sonpiretigene isteparvovec” for the nonproprietary name of the Company’s MCO-010, an ambient-light activatable Multi-Characteristic Opsin (MCO) optogenetic monotherapy to restore vision in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and Stargardt disease. MCO-010 has been granted orphan drug designation by the US Food and Drug Administration for both diseases and  multiple mid- to late-stage clinical trials are ongoing, including the Company’s Phase 2b multicenter, randomized, double-masked, sham-controlled RESTORE clinical trial for RP. Top line data from RESTORE  are expected in Q1 2023.

The name “sonpiretigene isteparvovec” for MCO-010 was selected by the WHO Expert Advisory Panel of the International Pharmacopoeia and Pharmaceutical Preparations. MCO-010 reached the status of recommended INN after a period of public consultation and was included in the INN Recommended List 128, published in the No. 4 issue of the WHO Drug Information, Volume 36 in January 2023.

Dr. Samarendra Mohanty, President of Nanoscope, said “The WHO’s INN system has facilitated the name of sonpiretigene isteparvovec for the active pharmaceutical ingredient, which is the foundation of our clinical development in several retinal degenerative diseases with high unmet need. We believe that finalizing this name is an important step towards potential future commercialization of MCO-010.”

About Nanoscope Therapeutics Inc.

Nanoscope Therapeutics is developing gene-agnostic, sight restoring optogenetic therapies for the millions of patients blinded by retinal degenerative diseases, for which no cure exists. The company’s lead asset, MCO-010, is presently in RESTORE Phase 2b multicenter, randomized, double-masked, sham-controlled clinical trials in the U.S. for retinitis pigmentosa (NCT04945772) with top-line data expected Q1 2023. The company has also fully enrolled a Phase 2 STARLIGHT trial of MCO-010 therapy in Stargardt patients (NCT05417126). MCO-010 has received FDA Fast Track designations and FDA orphan drug designations for both RP and Stargardt. Preclinical assets include non-viral laser delivered MCO-020 gene therapy for geographic atrophy.

Investor Contact:
Argot Partners
212-600-1902
Nanoscope@argotpartners.com

 

 

On February 28, 2023   /   Nanoscope Press Release, Home Page  
Nanoscope Therapeutics, Inc.
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  • Dr. Samarendra Mohanty, PhD |  Co-Founder & President

    Samarendra Mohanty (Co-Founder/President) is an inventor & serial entrepreneur with 20+ years experience in Biomedical Sciences. He is Co-Founder of several Biotechs and Biomedical device /diagnostic companies (developed & commercialized $100K+ biomedical instruments.)

    Samar obtained M.Tech in Applied Optics from the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi and a PhD in (Bio)Physics from the Indian Institute of Sciences-Bangalore.

    His extensive Biomedical Technologies experience includes serving as Professor/Senior Scientist at the University of Texas;  University of California, Irvine; Center for Adv. Tech (India); Int. Mol. Biotech (Germany); Univ. Pavia (Italy); NUS (Singapore); and University of St. Andrews (UK). He has authored over 200 international patents and publications in leading journals including Nature and Nature Photonics.

    He is the Principal Investigator for major grants from the National Eye Institute including Audacious Goal Initiative and Bioengineering Research grants. He serves on the editorial board of journals and chairs an international conference on optogenetics. He is the winner of a 2019 Healthcare Heroes award (Fort Worth Business Press), Retinal Organoid Challenge Award, Audacious Goal Initiative Award (NIH), Finalist of Tech Titan, and NIH-Director’s Innovator Award.