Clinical Trials

Indian biotechnology company Eyestem Research has achieved successful results from a phase 1 trial of Eyecyte-RPE, its potential therapy for a rare, advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Geographic atrophy (GA) leads to the progressive and irreversible loss of central vision, involving the death of macula cells within the retina, and affects approximately five million people around the world.

Eyestem's trial of Eyecyte-RPE in GA found advancements in the visual ability of GA patients who received the injection, with an average improvement of 14.9 letters in visual acuity reported in six out of nine patients over a follow up period of four to six months.

Moreover, retinal imaging scans indicated signs of disease reversal in a handful of patients.

Jogin Desai, Eyestem’s CEO, said: “The substantial vision improvement, sustained over a four to six-month period in all six patients… has been very encouraging and has the potential to reshape the landscape of GA treatment globally. It is especially rewarding to see the improvement in the quality of life in these patients.”

Eyestem focuses on treating eye diseases such as AMD and GA using cell therapies and Eyecyte-RPE is its lead retinal cell therapy product. It can help replace the damaged or lost retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and potentially enable tissue regeneration in the diseased retina.

Later this year, Eyestem will present its trial data at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting and the Retinal Cell and Gene Therapy Innovation Summit. It then has plans to begin a programme of phase 2 clinical trials in India and the US.