Three Philadelphia scientists were recently named the winners of the 2026 Breakthrough Prize for their work in developing the first FDA-approved gene therapy for a genetic disease, writes Kayla Yup for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The three scientists’ names are Katherine High, and married couple Jean Bennett and Albert Maguire.
High, is the CEO of RhyGaze, a company based in Philadelphia and Switzerland that develops gene therapies for vision issues.
In 2017, the Food and Drug Administration approved their one-time therapy, Luxturna, which is used to treat inherited retinal diseases caused by mutations in the RPE65 gene.
This genetic disease causes degeneration of the retina, which oftens leads to severe vision loss or blindness.
The scientists delivered a functional copy of the gene that affects patients’ eyes and found that they could improve vision.
Bennett is an expert in molecular biology, while Maguire is an ophthalmic surgeon who is skilled in delivering treatment into the eye.
The three of their work have helped advance treatment for retinal disorders.
“You needed the three of them,” said Huda Zoghbi, chair of the selection committee for the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences.
The Breakthrough Prize is a $3 million award that will be split among the three of them.
Read more about the groundbreaking work that has led to three local scientists being honored in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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