Neurology

Rat studies suggest GDNF-secreting human retinal epithelial cells could help treat epilepsy. In a rat model of pilocarpine-induced epilepsy, bilateral intrahippocampal implantation of GDNF-secreting human retinal epithelial cells decreased behavioral and cognitive impairments and the frequency of motor seizures compared with implantation of non-secreting human retinal epithelial cells. Next steps could include testing gene therapies and other methods for promoting GDNF secretion in the brains of epilepsy models.

uniQure N.V. has AAV2-GDNF, an adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotype 2 (AAV2) vector carrying the GDNF gene, in Phase I testing for Parkinson's disease (PD)...