Opus Genetics Accelerates Gene Therapy with Strategic Partnership
Deal News | Jul 29, 2025 | Ropes & Gray
In a collaborative effort to tackle inherited childhood blindness, Ropes & Gray provided pro bono legal advice to the Global RDH12 Alliance and Eyes on the Future, facilitating a strategic partnership with Opus Genetics. The partnership aims to advance a gene therapy program targeting Leber congenital amaurosis, a rare inherited retinal disease caused by RDH12 gene mutations. The Global RDH12 Alliance will contribute up to $1.6 million to develop the OPGx-RDH12 program. The partnership is structured around risk-sharing and performance-based milestones, with the goal of filing an Investigational New Drug application with the U.S. FDA by late 2025. This collaboration not only represents a major advancement in addressing rare eye diseases but also sets a precedent for cooperative models between patients and the biotech industry.
Sectors
- Biotechnology
- Healthcare
- Legal Services
Geography
- United States – Opus Genetics is based in the United States, and the goal is to file an IND application with the U.S. FDA.
- United Kingdom – The non-profit Eyes on the Future, part of the collaboration, is based in the United Kingdom.
Industry
- Biotechnology – The article discusses collaboration with Opus Genetics, a biotechnology company, to advance gene therapy for inherited retinal diseases.
- Healthcare – The advancements in gene therapy aim to provide treatment for Leber congenital amaurosis, directly involving the healthcare industry.
- Legal Services – Ropes & Gray, a law firm, provided pro bono legal support to facilitate the collaboration agreement.
Financials
- $1.6 million – Funding amount provided by the Global RDH12 Alliance towards the development of the OPGx-RDH12 program.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opus Genetics, Inc. | Biotechnology Company | Companies | Biotech firm involved in the development of gene therapy for retinal diseases. |
| Global RDH12 Alliance | Funding and Advocacy Group | Charity | Collaborative platform providing funding for research on RDH12-related retinal diseases. |
| Eyes on the Future | Non-profit Organization | Charity | UK-based non-profit collaborating to advance gene therapy research. |
| Ropes & Gray | Legal Advisor | Companies | Law firm providing pro bono legal advice for the collaboration. |
| Silvia Cerolini | CEO of Eyes on the Future | People | CEO commenting on the significance of the collaboration. |