Key points from article :
NEI launched a clinical trial of a stem cell-based therapy for advanced age-related macular degeneration(AMD).
AMD leads to vision loss in elderly and the advanced form currently has no treatment.
"First clinical trial in the U.S. to use replacement tissues from patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC),” said Kapil Bharti
Patient’s blood cells are converted into iPSC which are programmed to become retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells.
RPE cells nurture light-sensing cells (photoreceptors) in the retina but die early in AMD.
This therapy will shore up the health of remaining photoreceptors by replacing dying RPE with iPSC-derived RPE.
12 patients with advanced AMD to receive this therapy followed by one year of monitoring.
Tumour forming potential of stem cells is a concern but animal models showed no such risks.
Use of one's own blood cells will minimise the risk of rejection.
