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Scientists Are Rewinding the Biological Clock Inside Human Eyes-and Patients Say They Can See Again
Yahoo • • health
Key Points:
- Life Biosciences has initiated a Phase 1 gene therapy trial, ER-100, aimed at epigenetically reprogramming aging ganglion cells to treat glaucoma, showing preliminary visual improvements in patients.
- The ER-100 therapy is based on Harvard geneticist David Sinclair's research, which demonstrated restoration of youthful characteristics in mouse eye cells through the expression of three transcription factor genes.
- Similar regenerative approaches using stem cells are being explored for other eye diseases such as macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa, with early trials indicating safety and some vision improvements.
- Sinclair suggests that the epigenetic reprogramming technique could have broader therapeutic applications beyond the eye, potentially benefiting other organs affected by age-related decline.
- These advances signify a shift in treating age-related vision loss, moving from managing symptoms to potentially reversing cellular aging and restoring function.
