Phase II Clinical Trial to Begin This Year StemCells, Inc. yesterday announced that, based on positive interim results, it has closed enrollment in its Phase I/II clinical trial for dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in order to focus its efforts on a follow-on Phase II randomized, controlled proof-of-concept study. Exceeding the company’s expectations, interim results showed [Read More]
News
Omega-3 Inhibits Retinal Blood Vessel Growth
Researchers from Massachusetts Eye and Ear/Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School and other institutions have demonstrated for the first time that the omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs), DHA and EPA, can inhibit choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Their findings will be published in PNAS Online Early Edition the week of June 16-20, 2014. “These are [Read More]
Stem Cell Trial for Myopic Macular Degeneration
Advanced Cell Technology (ACT) announced in a shareholders’ conference call on June 9, 2014, that it has initiated its myopic macular degeneration (MMD) trial at Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA. The open-label study will enroll 12 patients, with cohorts of 3 patients each in an ascending dosage format. As with it’s current trials for [Read More]
Blood Pressure Meds and AMD
by Dan Roberts A relationship has been found, but don’t throw away the meds. The media has recently been reporting research from the University of Wisconsin, which found an association between development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and use of blood pressure (BP) lowering medications. Before patients begin discarding their BP drugs, however, they should [Read More]
Making artificial vision look more natural
Courtesy: National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health (NEI/NIH) NIH-funded study could help improve retinal prosthetic devices In laboratory tests, researchers have used electrical stimulation of retinal cells to produce the same patterns of activity that occur when the retina sees a moving object. Although more work remains, this is a step toward restoring natural, [Read More]