Gene therapy could put sleep problem to bed

An Australian collaboration will work on the development of a gene therapy to treat sleep apnoea, widespread in the middle-aged population. 

CDMO 'Viral Vector Manufacturing Facility' and UNSW startup Optosleep have signed a Letter of Intent to collaborate on the evaluation and development of an adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based optogenetic gene therapy program being advanced by UNSW researchers.

"Australia is producing world-class research in cell and gene therapy," VVMF CEO, Stephen Thompson, said. "Translating that research into clinical programs requires access to specialised development and manufacturing expertise that is often unavailable locally."