Safety and Efficacy Study of OpRegen for Treatment of Advanced Dry-Form Age-Related Macular Degeneration

General Information

Summary The main objective of the study is evaluation of the safety and tolerability of OpRegen - human embryonic stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelial (RPE)cells. The study will also include initial exploration of the ability of transplanted OpRegen cells to engraft, survive, and moderate disease progression.
Description OpRegen® is a cell-based product composed of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESC) and administered as a cell suspension either in ophthalmic Balanced Salt Solution Plus (BSS Plus) or in CryoStor® 5 (Thaw-and-Inject, TAI). This is a Phase I/IIa, dose-escalation, evaluating safety and tolerability of OpRegen transplantation to patients with progressive dry-AMD. The study includes also initial exploration of efficacy. A total of approximately 24 subjects will be enrolled. The subjects should be 50 years of age and older, with non-neovascular (dry) AMD, who have funduscopic findings of GA in the macula, with absence of additional concomitant ocular disorders. The subjects will be divided into four cohorts, according to their best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and administered OpRegen dose.
Clinical trials phase Phases 1/2
Start date (estimated) 2015-04-01
End date (estimated) 2025-07-01
Clinical feature
Label age related macular degeneration
Link http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/DOID_10871
Description A degeneration of macula and posterior pole that is characterized by a loss of vision in the center of the visual field (the macula) resulting from damage to the retina and resulting in blurring of the sharp central vision.; OMIM mapping confirmed by DO. [SN].
Publications

Administrative Information

NCT number NCT02286089
ICTRP weblink https://trialsearch.who.int/Trial2.aspx?TrialID=NCT02286089
Other study identifiers
Name GR44172
Source weblink http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02286089
Public contact
Email patientcare@roche.com
Public email patientcare@roche.com
Sponsors Hoffmann-La Roche

Cells

Source pluripotent stem cell lines
Which differentiated cell type is used
Label retinal pigment epithelial cell
Link http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/CL_0002586
Description An epithelial cell of the retinal pigmented epithelium.; This extended description was generated by ChatGPT and reviewed by the CellGuide team, who added references, and by the CL editors, who approved it for inclusion in CL. It may contain information that applies to only to some subtypes and species, and so should not be considered definitional. Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells form a single layer of cells at the back of the eye sandwiched between the neurosensory retina and the choroid, playing a significant role in maintaining vision health. These pigment-laden cells are highly specialized and perform an array of metabolic and transport functions essential for the maintenance of the photoreceptor cells (rods and cones) in the retina. The pigmentation of RPE cells actively aids in the absorption of excess light and the prevention of light scattering, thus enhancing the eye's optical properties. The retinal pigment epithelium forms a key part of the blood/retina barrier. The cells have long sheet-like microvilli on their apical membrane that project into the light-sensitive outer segments of the photoreceptors, forming a close structural interaction. The basolateral membrane of the RPE interacts with the underlying Bruch’s membrane, which separates the RPE cells from fenestrated endothelium of the choriocapillaris. RPE cells support the photoreceptor by providing them with oxygen and nutrients (such as glucose, retinol and fatty acids) and removing waste products. They also recycle the visual pigment, in a process called the "visual cycle", where the RPE cells play a vital role in the regeneration of visual pigment (11-cis retinol) following the absorption of light. This is essential for the maintenance of photoreceptor excitability. Beyond this, RPE cells take part in the phagocytosis process, where they digest the shed ends of photoreceptor outer segments, thus, preventing the build-up of waste residue that could otherwise harm retinal health. They also secrete various factors, including growth factors required to maintain the structural integrity of choriocapillaris endothelium and photoreceptors, as well as immunosuppressive factors that play an important role in establishing the immune privilege of the eye.

Recruitment

Recruitment Status Active, not recruiting
Estimated number of participants 24