DALLAS, October 6, 2026
Nanoscope Therapeutics announced that its investigational MOGENRY® (sonpiretigene isteparvovec; MCO-010) optogenetic gene therapy will be featured in scientific programming at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) 2026 Annual Meeting, taking place October 8–13 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The biotechnology company will also participate in Eyecelerator@AAO 2026, where its leadership will discuss advances in retinal therapeutics and provide updates on MOGENRY. The company is developing MCO-010 as a mutation-agnostic optogenetic gene therapy for patients with vision loss associated with retinal degeneration. At AAO 2026, researchers will present four-year REMAIN data from the RESTORE Phase 2b/3 trial in retinitis pigmentosa (RP), alongside a scientific poster evaluating vision improvement in dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The presentations highlight Nanoscope’s ongoing clinical and regulatory development of its retinal disease programs.
Four-Year Data to Highlight Retinitis Pigmentosa Therapy
At the AAO meeting, Kenneth C. Fan, MD, is scheduled to present four-year data from the REMAIN study, involving patients treated in the RESTORE Phase 2b/3 trial of MCO-010 for retinitis pigmentosa. The presentation, titled “Lasting Vision Improvement in Retinitis Pigmentosa: REMAIN 4-Year Study Data From the RESTORE Phase 2b/3 Trial of MCO-010 Optogenetic Therapy,” is scheduled for October 11. According to Nanoscope, the presentation will highlight the durability of vision improvement observed with MCO-010 in patients with RP. The company is also presenting a scientific poster examining vision improvement in dry AMD using sonpiretigene isteparvovec in what it describes as the first direct-to-Phase 2 randomized controlled trial in this setting. These data add to Nanoscope’s broader effort to evaluate its optogenetic platform across retinal degenerative diseases and different causes of vision loss.
MOGENRY Uses Optogenetic Gene Therapy Approach
Nanoscope describes MOGENRY as a one-time, in-office intravitreal optogenetic gene therapy based on its proprietary multi-characteristic opsin, or MCO, technology. The approach delivers a genetically engineered synthetic opsin to surviving bipolar retinal cells, with the objective of making these cells directly sensitive to light following photoreceptor loss. The company says the technology is designed to provide broad-spectrum light sensitivity and rapid response characteristics. Unlike therapies that require disease-specific genetic mutations to be identified, MCO-010 is being developed as a disease-agnostic approach, potentially allowing treatment across different forms of retinal degeneration. The company is evaluating MCO-010 in several retinal diseases, including retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt disease, and geographic atrophy, while additional programs are being prepared for inherited retinal conditions such as Leber congenital amaurosis.
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Regulatory Programs Advance in U.S. and Japan
The AAO presentations come as Nanoscope advances MOGENRY through regulatory review. The company reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has accepted and filed its Biologics License Application (BLA) for MOGENRY for the treatment of RP with severe vision loss. In Japan, the company said the PMDA has accepted its New Drug Application for priority review for inherited retinal dystrophies. These regulatory milestones complement the clinical development program and could provide additional pathways toward potential commercialization if the therapy receives the necessary approvals. Nanoscope also reported that MCO-010 has received several regulatory designations across the United States, Europe, Japan, and other regions for retinal diseases. Beyond RP, the company has reported results from the STARLIGHT Phase 2 study in Stargardt disease and plans to initiate a Phase 3 registrational study. A Phase 2 program in geographic atrophy is also planned. Through its participation in Eyecelerator 2026 and AAO 2026, Nanoscope is using major ophthalmology forums to present clinical evidence and discuss the continued development of its optogenetic gene therapy platform for vision restoration.
Source: Nanoscope Therapeutics press release
