Press Releases
September 27, 2001
Neurotech moves one step closer to new treatment for Age-related
Macular Degeneration (AMD)
Successful application of human cell lines to minimize loss
of visual acuity in a rat model of retinal degeneration validates
Neurotech's cell therapy platform
Paris, September 27 2001 - Neurotech S.A., specialist in the discovery,
development and commercialisation of eye therapies, announces today
the completion of a key preclinical research phase for innovative
treatments against AMD. The French biotechnology company has successfully
performed the sub-retinal transplantation of human retinal lines
in a rat model of retinal degeneration. This achievement, realised
through a long-standing collaboration with the London Institute
of Ophthalmology and the University of Sheffield, is described in
the August issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
(PNAS), the internationally renowned American scientific journal.
The rat model used, the Royal College of Surgeons rat, has a retinal
epithelial cell type, (RPE cells) which spontaneously degenerates,
due to a mutation, causing loss of vision leading to blindness.
Following sub-retinal transplantation of human cell lines prepared
by Neurotech, treated rats showed a significant protection of photoreceptor
cells in the retina and maintenance of visual function. A number
of different tests have been able to establish the efficacy of this
transplantation:
- histological tests demonstrated significant rescue of photoreceptor
cells in treated as opposed to control animals.
- functional tests : a behavioural optokinetic test revealed that
at 10 and 20 weeks post transplantation, dystrophic rats which had
undergone the treatment had a significantly superior' response to
visual stimuli compared to control rats.Electrophysiological analyses
also confirmed preservation of visual functions in treated rats.
In vivo efficacy resulting from transplantation experiments is
a significant development for Neurotech and there is wide scope
for its application in combating certain visual loss in humans.
The procedure reveals the untapped potential of human retinal cell
lines in the treatment of degenerative retinal disease caused by
dysfunctional RPE cells. Neurotech can now build on this research
and progress towards clinical tests in retinal diseases, AMD in
particular.
AMD is currently the main cause of blindness in developed countries
afflicting older generations with an incidence of 30% in the over
70's. Roughly 25 million people worldwide are diagnosed with the
disease. Degeneration of the macula (the small part of the retina
responsible for central vision) causes loss of sight in the middle
of the visual field. Since the macula is concerned with distinguishing
details and is used in reading, driving, in colour and facial recognition,
its deterioration has a substantial effect on patients. Therefore,
Neurotech's latest phase of research represents an important therapeutic
hope for many afflicted with this seriously disabling illness.
"We are extremely pleased to see the research of Neurotech
and our academic partners documented and published in a key scientific
journal such as PNAS that is well known for its high scientific
standards" says Dr Tom Shepherd, Neurotech CEO. "This
peer reviewed publication validates our research and technology
and enables us to investigate numerous other applications within
the ophthalmology field. This accomplishment strengthens Neurotech's
position as a leading biotechnology company in the eye.
About Neurotech:
Neurotech S.A. is a French based biotechnology company developing
cell therapy and protein delivery products in the eye and brain.
Neurotech's Encapsulated Cell Technology (ECT) allows, for the first
time, the long term administration of protein drugs in the eye and
CNS. In addition to the ECT, Neurotech has a portfolio of cell therapy
products in development to treat eye and CNS disease. Neurotech
has R&D operations in France and the United States and is supported
by an international group of investors including: Merlin Biosciences,
Apax Partners, 3i Plc, Atlas Venture, Westdeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale,
GIMV, CDC-Innovation, Sofinnova, ABN Amro, AGF Innovation, Rothschild,
Banexi, IMH, Private Equity Holdings, Sudinnova, and Banque de Vizille.
Scientific reference: article in PNAS, vol 98, no.17, p 9942-9947,
14th August 2001 Œsubretinal transplantation of genetically
modified human cell lines attenuates loss of visual function in
dystrophic rats' PDF file copies of the publication can be obtained
at http://www.pnas.org/cgi/reprint/98/17/9942
For further information please contact :
Bernard Davitian, CEO
Neurotech
Phone: 1 401 333-3880 x3136
Email: b.davitian@neurotech.fr
|
