"Using high resolution imaging technology, we have been observing evidence indicating that the transplanted RPE cells are getting to the right place in the sub-retinal space, engrafting and are apparently resurfacing areas of the retina with a new RPE layer," said Robert Lanza , M.D., ACT's chief scientific officer. "With multiple follow-ups happening across multiple trial sites with these patients, we also continue to see an encouraging trend with respect to subjective and objective observations relating to visual acuity, color perceptions and contrast in vision. In the case of the first dry AMD and SMD patients, the visual acuity gains we saw more than a year ago continue to persist."
The RPE layer plays a central role in the health and function of the photoreceptor layer. In treating various forms of macular degeneration, such as dry AMD and SMD, the goal of the company's RPE cell therapy is for repair and replacement of those areas in the eye where the RPE layer has degraded with new cells, and in doing so, recapitulate the correct working environment around the photoreceptor layer.
Gary Rabin , chairman and CEO, in reference to the conference call scheduled for 4:30 p.m. EST today, said, "We are extremely pleased with these results, and plan to visually share a few examples today. While we remain cautious as the data is still very preliminary, the enthusiasm it has created within our clinical group makes me believe that we are ready to focus on earlier stage dry AMD and SMD patients where we hope we to show that our RPE therapy may be a meaningful treatment for these debilitating, sight-threatening diseases, while addressing a large unmet medical need."
