Shire and the Foundation Fighting Blindness have announced a new agreement focused on furthering research for a novel treatment for autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (adRP), a rare genetic disease that usually first occurs in late childhood or adolescence and is followed by the progressive loss of peripheral vision. There are no currently approved treatment options for adRP.

The Foundation Fighting Blindness and its research partners will provide Shire with expert knowledge and scientific background, as well as pertinent clinical information that could be useful in the development of a drug to treat adRP. Backed by its scientific advisory board, the Foundation Fighting Blindness will also provide counsel as requested on the pre-clinical and/or clinical development of Shire compounds in development for the treatment of adRP.