Embryonic stem cells will cure macular degeneration
The US authorities have allowed a second experiment on treatment with embryonic stem cellsDmitry Tselikov, Compulenta
The US Food and Drug Administration has given the go-ahead for the transplantation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) into the body of patients suffering from Stargardt's disease.
Patients with this type of macular degeneration (dystrophy of photosensitive retinal cells) will become the second group in the world to receive stem cells from embryos left over from in vitro fertilization. Treatment of spinal cord injury by the same method began in the United States in October. In addition, Scottish doctors have just started using stem cells from a stroke survivor. But there is used material obtained from the body of 12-week-old embryos, which failed parents voluntarily handed over to scientists.
Geron company is engaged in spinal cord treatment, and Advanced Cell Technology company will work with the eyes. Robert Lanza, the chief researcher of the latter, says that the first of several dozen adult patients who developed Stargardt's disease in childhood will receive an injection early next year. Signs of improvement may appear after six weeks (much depends on the individual), but still the main purpose of the study is to check the safety of the method, not healing.
Clinical trials will take place in several institutions scattered across the United States: at the Casey Eye Institute in Portland (Oregon), the University of Massachusetts in Worcester and the New Jersey Medical School in Newark.
The first three patients will receive 50 thousand each. ESC with one injection, the second group – 100 thousand, the third – 200 thousand. Animal studies have shown significant improvements already at the lowest dose without any side effects. Sometimes one hundred percent restoration of visual acuity was achieved.
Prepared by the Independent: Stem cells could help blind patients to see within six weeksPortal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru