Stem Cells Blindness
The first effective stem cell therapy that may cure the leading cause of blindness has recently been developed by British scientists. Surgeons are now predicting that it is likely to evolve into a common, one-hour procedure viewed by many as a practice that can be regularly performed in around seven years time.
With the total number of patients with AMD standing at more than 14 million in Europe alone it is clear that the ability to reach as wide a number as possible is definitely a positive thing. The clinical trial is likely to happen within two years and regulatory approval for trials is currently being sought by the team.
The treatment itself involves the replacement of a layer of degenerated cells with new cells that have been created from embryonic stem cells. The technique was first undertaken by scientists and surgeons at the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London and Moorfields Eye Hospital. Pfizer, which is one of the largest pharmaceutical research companies in the world, has recently announced that it will inject financial backing into the project in order to ensure that the therapy is delivered to patients.
The disease results in the loss of eye cells. In the course of the new treatment embryonic stem cells are changed into replicas of the missing eye cells and are then placed onto an artificial membrane, while the membrane is subsequently placed in the back of the retina.
The treatment will be geared towards dealing with age-related macular degeneration, which is the most usual cause of blindness. AMD currently affects more than half a million people in the UK alone, and as populations begin to live longer than before many are predicting that this number will continue to rise in coming years – particularly with the large “Baby Boomer” generation nearing retirement age and requiring significantly more medical attention than previous generation groups.
Embryonic stem cells have the unique ability to transform into all different types of body tissue, although due to the fact that their use involves the destruction of human embryos any treatment technique involving their use remains controversial. The laboratory trials that have been finished by the British team, however, have shown that the stem cells are able to prevent blindness in rats that have a disease very similar to AMD and parts of the technology have also been successfully tested on pigs.
The chief executive of the Macular Disease Society, Tom Bremridge, described the news as “a huge step forward for patients” in terms of eye treatment. He also expressed his pleasure that major players like Pfizer had stepped forward and become involved as this will result in a larger number of patients being able to take advantage of the new treatment.
Professor Pete Coffey, the leader of the research team, stated that the treatment itself would in all probability “take less than an hour, so it could really be considered an outpatient procedure.” Professor Coffey also welcomed the involvement of Pfizer and their undertaking to manufacture the membranes, stating that “a major partner of their standing will really scale things up.”
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