IKC159V

IKC159V is a bicistronic adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy developed for the treatment of geographic atrophy (GA), an advanced form of age-related macular degeneration. The therapy delivers genes encoding two proteins: a soluble form of complement co-factor CD46, which modulates the complement cascade to reduce pathological inflammation, and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), which protects retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptors from atrophy and prevents neovascularization. Preclinical studies have shown that IKC159V reduces angiogenesis, lesion area, and membrane attack complex formation more effectively than single-gene therapies targeting either pathway alone. The synergy between PEDF and sCD46 in this vector offers a next-generation approach for GA by addressing both oxidative stress/inflammation and retinal cell preservation in one injection[1][4][6].