Stem Cell Treatment for Dry AMD Fast-tracked by FDA

It was reported here in March 2017 that BioTime, Inc. is conducting a Phase I/IIa clinical trial for OpRegen® for treatment of dry AMD. OpRegen is a retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) stem cell transplant therapy currently in development for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with geographic atrophy (GA). RPE cells are essential [Read More]

Stem Cell Procedures Promising

by Dan Roberts (Updated February 20, 2015) Several studies are showing success at using stem cell transplantation to treat retinal degeneration. This article describes the progress of the research. University of Washington In 2006, a team from the University of Washington used a mix of “growth factors”, natural proteins that encourage cell growth, to coax [Read More]

New Treatment for Dry AMD Using HuCNS Stem Cells

by Dan Roberts February 2, 2012 StemCells, Inc. announced on February 2, 2012 that the FDA has authorized a Phase I/II clinical trial of a new method using stem cells from the brain to prevent degeneration of the macula in dry AMD patients. Purified human neural stem cells (HuCNS-SC) will be administered by a single [Read More]

Retina Developed From Human Stem Cells

by Dan Roberts (Updated February 1, 2008) Advanced Cell Technology (ACT) in Massachusetts announced on September 23, 2004 that they had engineered human embryonic stem cells which could be used to repair a damaged retina. The research team worked with stem cells taken from human embryos made by another team at Harvard University and coaxed [Read More]