LEIDEN, the Netherlands, July 12, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ProQR Therapeutics N.V. (Nasdaq: PRQR ), a company dedicated to changing lives through the creation of transformative RNA medicines for the treatment of severe genetic rare diseases, today announced upcoming presentations at the International Symposium on Usher Syndrome (USH2018) and the Ophthalmology Innovation Summit (OIS) Retina conferences. 

Presentation at USH2018

A presentation will be delivered by Dr. Erwin van Wijk from Radboudumc at Nijmegen, the Netherlands on QR-421a for Usher Syndrome during the USH2018 International Symposium to be held on July 19 – 21, 2018 in Mainz, Germany.

Abstract title:   Splice modulation to treat USH2A-associated retinal degeneration
Presenter:   Erwin van Wijk, Ph.D., Assistant Professor at Radboudumc  
Poster Presentation :   Friday, July 20 at 14:30 CET
Session:   Scientific oral presentations: Therapy for Usher Syndrome II
     

Presentation at OIS Retina

Daniel de Boer, CEO of ProQR, will give a presentation highlighting the company’s ophthalmology pipeline, including the QR-110 program for Leber’s congenital amaurosis type 10, at the upcoming OIS Retina Conference to be held on July 20, 2018 in Vancouver, Canada.

Presentation title :   RNA treatments targeting rare diseases
Presenter :   Daniel de Boer, Chief Executive Officer of ProQR
Presentation :   Friday, July 20 at 9:00 am PT
Session:     Foundation Fighting Blindness Emerging Science Showcase
     

About Usher Syndrome Type 2A

Usher syndrome is the leading cause of combined deafness and blindness. Patients with this syndrome generally progress to a stage in which they have very limited central vision and moderate to severe deafness. Usher syndrome type 2A is one of the most common forms of Usher syndrome and is caused by mutations in the USH2A gene. To date, there are no treatments approved or products in clinical development that treat the vision loss associated with Usher syndrome type 2A.

About QR-421a

QR-421a is a first-in-class investigational RNA-based oligonucleotide designed to address the underlying cause of vision loss in Usher syndrome 2A due to mutations in exon 13 of the USH2A gene. Mutations in this exon can cause loss of functional usherin protein that causes the disease. QR-421a is designed to exclude the genetic defect from the RNA in the eye, such that it leads to the expression of a shortened but functional protein, thereby modifying the underlying disease. QR-421a has received orphan drug designation in the United States and the European Union.

About Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis 10

Leber’s congenital amaurosis (LCA) is the most common cause of blindness due to genetic disease in children and consists of a group of diseases of which LCA 10 is one of the more severe forms. LCA 10 is caused by mutations in the CEP290 gene, of which the p.Cys998X mutation is the most common. LCA 10 leads to early loss of vision causing most people to lose their sight in the first few years of life. To date, there are no treatments approved or other products in clinical development that treat the underlying cause of the disease. Approximately 2,000 people in the Western world have LCA 10 because of this mutation.

About QR-110

QR-110 is a first-in-class investigational RNA-based oligonucleotide designed to address the underlying cause of Leber’s congenital amaurosis 10 due to the p.Cys998X mutation in the CEP290 gene. The p.Cys998X mutation is a substitution of one nucleotide in the pre-mRNA that leads to aberrant splicing of the mRNA and non-functional CEP290 protein. QR-110 is designed to restore wild-type CEP290 mRNA leading to the production of wild-type CEP290 protein by binding to the mutated location in the pre-mRNA causing normal splicing of the pre-mRNA. QR-110 is intended to be administered through intravitreal injections in the eye and has been granted orphan drug designation in the United States and the European Union and fast track status by the FDA.

About ProQR

ProQR Therapeutics is dedicated to changing lives through the creation of transformative RNA medicines for the treatment of severe genetic rare diseases such as Leber’s congenital amaurosis 10, dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa and cystic fibrosis. Based on our unique proprietary RNA repair platform technologies we are growing our pipeline with patients and loved ones in mind.
*Since 2012*

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, which are often indicated by terms such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "goal," "intend," "look forward to", "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "will," "would" and similar expressions. Such statements include those relating to our participation at the International Symposium on Usher Syndrome and the Ophthalmology Innovation Summit Retina conferences. Forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and on information available to management only as of the date of this press release. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements for many reasons, including, without limitation, the risks, uncertainties and other factors in our filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including certain sections of our annual report filed on Form 20-F. Given these risks, uncertainties and other factors, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, and we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future, except as required by law.

ProQR Therapeutics N.V.:
Smital Shah
Chief Financial Officer
T: +1 415 231 6431
ir@proqr.com