Nov 13 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved PTC Therapeutics' (PTCT.O), opens new tab gene therapy to treat a potential fatal enzyme deficiency disorder, the company said on Wednesday, sending its shares up about 2% in aftermarket trade.

The FDA issued its first stamp of approval for a cell or gene therapy back in 2017 to Novartis' Kymriah. | The gene therapy has already been approved to treat AADC deficiency in Europe and the U.K., among other countries,

PTC Therapeutics (NASDAQ:PTCT) has received FDA approval for its gene replacement therapy Kebilidi for the treatment of children and adults with AADC deficiency, a rare genetic disorder that impairs the ability to generate dopamine,

This therapy is designed to address the needs of children and adults with aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency. The FDA's accelerated approval is based on the saf

Kebilidi is the first gene therapy approved by the FDA for administration directly into the brain, given via a cannula during a surgical procedure, and replaces the human dopa decarboxylase (DDC) gene that is mutated in the disease, allowing dopamine synthesis to take place.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval of PTC Therapeutics’ gene therapy for the treatment of AADC (aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase) deficiency, making it the first-ever gene therapy approved in the USA that is directly administered to the brain.

The approval marks the first time gene therapy will be available to treat patients with aromatic I-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency.