Stem cells injected into eye aim to halt blindness

NCT ID NCT02286089

Ongoing Disease control Sponsor: Hoffmann-La Roche Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 28, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This study tests a stem cell therapy called OpRegen for people with advanced dry age-related macular degeneration (geographic atrophy). Researchers inject retinal pigment epithelium cells derived from human embryonic stem cells into the eye to see if they can safely replace damaged cells and slow vision loss. The trial involves 24 participants aged 50 and older with poor central vision.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: OpRegen (human embryonic stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelium cells)
What this could lead to: If successful, this could slow or stop vision loss from dry age-related macular degeneration, offering a new treatment option for a currently untreatable condition.
What could go wrong: This is an early-phase trial with only 24 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. Risks include inflammation, retinal detachment, or the cells not surviving long-term.

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

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

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

AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION

Contacts and locations

Locations

Cincinnati Eye Institute

Cincinnati, Ohio, 45242, United States
Hadassah Medical Center

Jerusalem, 9112001, Israel
Kaplan Medical Center

Rehovot, 76100, Israel
Mid Atlantic Retina

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, United States
Rabin Medical Center

Petah Tikva, 4941492, Israel
Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center

Tel Aviv, 6423906, Israel
West Coast Retina Medical Group

San Francisco, California, 94109, United States

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