The research team is now monitoring 12 more participants who received higher doses of 150,000 and 250,000 cells. If no safety issues are identified, the investigators plan to move on to later stages of the clinical trial.
Washington: A first-of-its-kind trial is testing adult stem cell transplants for advanced dry macular degeneration. Early results show the treatment is safe and can significantly improve vision, even in severely affected patients.
Participants gained measurable sight improvements in the treated eye. Researchers are now monitoring higher-dose groups as the therapy advances toward later trial phases.
In the United States, age-related macular degeneration is one of the most common causes of permanent vision loss in adults who are 60 and older. It affects the macula, the central region of the retina that contains tightly packed cells used for sharp, detailed colour vision.
New Stem Cell Therapy Trial Offers Hope for Millions Living with Untreatable Advanced Dry Macular Degeneration
Roughly 20 million adults in the country are living with some form of AMD. People with this condition typically lose the ability to see objects directly in front of them, although their peripheral vision remains intact.
Available therapies can slow how the disease progresses, but none of them can restore lost vision.
Source: REPUBLIC
To learn more about macular degeneration visit www.macularhope.org