The Max Planck Society (Max-Planck-Gesellschaft) and Fovea Pharmaceuticals (the ophthalmology division of Sanofi) have announced the formation of a partnership to identify and develop innovative solutions for restoring vision in patients suffering from diseases affecting the retina.

This research collaboration and licence agreement will last for 3 years and will see the Fovea team work with the Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, led by Professor Ernst Bamberg, who pioneered the understanding of the application of retinal binding channelrhodopsins and was one of the founders of optogenetics. Professor Bamberg commented, "The cooperation is a big step forward to bring the optogenetic approach to the clinics."

The agreement will complement other collaborations of Fovea and will further advance research on the retinal binding protein channelrhodopsin 2 (ChR2) and its application in retinal diseases. It is hoped that a successful outcome of this research will result in restoration of visual function in patients suffering from reduced vision or blindness.

Under the terms of the agreement the Max Planck Institute will receive a total of 450,000 and Sanofi will be given priority access to the technology, inventions and derived technologies of the Max Planck Institute research activities in ChR2.

For more information visit the Max Planck Society's website at 