Stem cell-derived implant improves AMD patients' vision

U.K. researchers reported in Nature Biotechnology that a human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) “patch” improved visual acuity in two patients with severe wet age-related macular degeneration in a suspended Phase I trial.

The two patients were enrolled in the study before Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE), which was developing the product as PF-05206388, discontinued the program in 2016 for strategic commercial reasons unrelated to the trial. The pharma said it is transferring the program back to its originator, University College London, which plans to restart the trial this year...