Targeting Age-Related Macular Degeneration With Stem Cell Therapy

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a common eye disorder leading to permanent loss of central vision, is the leading cause of blindness in developed countries. Current treatments for AMD are often ineffective, particularly for dry AMD, the most common form of the disorder. Cell therapy technologies offer potential new treatments for AMD, however, the efficacy of such treatments depends on the ability to deliver therapeutic cells to the target region and to produce enough RPE cells. On the back of the success of Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology, a novel stem-cell therapy based upon iPSC-derived RPE cell transplantation was conceptualized as a promising new treatment for AMD and other retinal diseases. Bio-Techne aims to offer a range of animal-free cell culture products and GMP proteins for clinical manufacturing, which may boost the success of cell therapies. iPSC-based cell therapy is seen as a promising solution for AMD patients unresponsive to traditional treatments.