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Updated: May 25, 2026

Subconjunctival Administration of Adeno-associated Virus Vectors in Small Animal Models
Published on: March 16, 2022
AAV2 gene therapy readministration in three adults with congenital blindness
Jean Bennett1, Manzar Ashtari, Jennifer Wellman
1F. M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, 309 Stellar-Chance Labs, 422 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. jebennet@mail.med.upenn.edu
Abstract:
Demonstration of safe and stable reversal of blindness after a single unilateral subretinal injection of a recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) carrying the RPE65 gene (AAV2-hRPE65v2) prompted us to determine whether it was possible to obtain additional benefit through a second administration of the AAV vector to the contralateral eye. Readministration of vector to the second eye was carried out in three adults with Leber congenital amaurosis due to mutations in the RPE65 gene 1.7 to 3.3 years after they had received their initial subretinal injection of AAV2-hRPE65v2. Results (through 6 months) including evaluations of immune response, retinal and visual function testing, and functional magnetic resonance imaging indicate that readministration is both safe and efficacious after previous exposure to AAV2-hRPE65v2.
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