London Project to Cure Blindness begins clinical trial of stem cell treatment for wet AMD

A clinical trial of a stem cell transplantation treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration is underway after the first patient had a successful surgery, according to a Moorfields Eye Hospital press release.

The trial is part of the London Project to Cure Blindness, a partnership among the hospital, the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, the National Institute for Health Research and Pfizer. It is investigating the safety and stability of transplanted retinal pigment epithelium cells and whether there is an effect in restoring vision in 10 wet AMD patients over an 18-month period.

“We are tremendously pleased to have reached this stage in the research for a new therapeutic approach,” Pete Coffey, DPhil, of the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and co-leader of the London Project, said in the release. “Although we recognize this clinical trial focuses on a small group of AMD patients who have experienced sudden severe visual loss, we hope that many patients may benefit in the future.”

The first operation, which uses a specially engineered patch that is inserted behind the retina, was performed in August with no complications to date. The partnership plans to have initial visual recovery outcomes by early December, the release said.