Back Bay in Cell & Gene: Shining Light on the Commercial Potential of Optogenetic Therapies

By Kevin Norman, Ph.D., and Peter Bak, Ph.D., Back Bay Life Science Advisors

Fifteen years ago, scientists discovered a method of using light to stimulate light-sensitive receptors in order to turn brain cells “on” and “off” at the flip of a switch. Since that moment, scientists have been using this technique, called optogenetics, as a method of modulating distinct brain circuits with millisecond precision to explore their functional role in numerous complex behaviors, from learning and memory to addiction. Until recently, the use of optogenetics has been completely restricted to use in preclinical animal models; however, advances in the development of optogenetic therapies have allowed this technology to move from the laboratory to humans. The first-in-human use of optogenetic therapies to treat retinal disorders will likely open the gate for utilizing light-activated optogenetic switches to advance the safety and efficacy of treatments for other disorders beyond the eye, including cancer.

Read the about the clinical and commercial landscape and which companies are making headway, at Cell & Gene, here.