In patients with SMA1, a single intravenous infusion of adeno-associated viral vector containing DNA coding for SMN resulted in longer survival, superior achievement of motor milestones, and better motor function than in historical cohorts. Further studies are necessary to confirm the safety and efficacy of this gene therapy. (Funded by AveXis and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02122952 .).
Delivery of therapeutics to the brain and spinal cord remains a challenge for neurodegenerative diseases, such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The blood-brain-barrier (BBB) hampers delivery of therapeutics to neurons, glia, and surrounding cell types of the central nervous system (CNS) that may be involved in disease progression. Here, we describe an intravenous injection of adeno-associated-virus-9 (AAV-9) in mouse that efficiently targets brain, dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord motor neurons in neonatal animals and astrocytes in adult mouse brain and spinal cords, offering a new therapeutic delivery approach to deliver genes to widespread regions within the CNS.
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