Can a gene therapy reverse aging in the eye? new trial begins

NCT ID NCT07290244

Recruiting now Disease control Sponsor: Life Biosciences Inc. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This early-stage trial is testing a single dose of ER-100, a gene therapy designed to reverse age-related changes in retinal cells, in 18 adults with open-angle glaucoma or NAION. Participants receive the therapy via an eye injection and take doxycycline for 8 weeks to activate it. The main goal is to check safety and side effects, not yet to measure vision improvement. Researchers will follow participants for up to 5 years.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: ER-100 (a gene therapy that delivers instructions to produce OCT4, SOX2, and KLF4 proteins, activated by doxycycline)
What this could lead to: If safe, this could pave the way for a treatment that reverses age-related damage in optic nerve cells, potentially slowing vision loss in glaucoma and NAION.
What could go wrong: This is a very early Phase 1 trial with only 18 participants, so safety and effectiveness are not yet known. The therapy involves a virus-based gene therapy and requires 8 weeks of doxycycline, which may cause side effects.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for NAION( NON-ARTERITIC ANTERIOR ISCHEMIC OPTIC NEUROPATHY) are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy open-angle glaucoma optic nerve disorder retinal disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

NAION( NON-ARTERITIC ANTERIOR ISCHEMIC OPTIC NEUROPATHY) OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA (OAG)

Contacts and locations

Show contact details

Study contacts

Contact

Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

Charleston Neuroscience Institute
RECRUITING

Charleston, South Carolina, 29414, United States
Columbia University Irving Medical Center/Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute
RECRUITING

New York, New York, 10032, United States
Global Research Management, Inc.
RECRUITING

Glendale, California, 91204, United States
Mass Eye and Ear
RECRUITING

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.