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OpRegen shows positive phase 1/2a study results for dry AMD
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CHICAGO — OpRegen, a retinal pigment epithelium cell therapy transplant for dry age-related macular degeneration, has shown signs of improving the retina structurally and decreasing drusen density, according to press release from BioTime.
Early data from a phase 1/2a study also showed encouraging results in earlier-stage dry AMD, including evidence of continued presence of the transplanted cells and improvements in visual acuity, the release said.
Data from the study were presented at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting by one of its investigators, Eyal Banin, MD, PhD.
The transplant therapy consists of a suspension of retinal pigment epithelial cells delivered subretinally as an intraocular injection.
Patients in the first three cohorts of the study and the first three patients in a fourth cohort showed signs of a reduction and change in drusen material and improvement or possible restoration of the ellipsoid zone and retinal pigment epithelium layers. In addition, where OpRegen was administered, the photoreceptor layer and ellipsoid zone assumed a more regular structural appearance, the release said.