An experimental treatment may significantly slow the progression of the blindness-causing disorder macular degeneration, in what would mark the first therapy of its kind according to latest research.
There are currently no available treatments to stymie macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in people aged 60 and older. More than five million patients globally are affected by a form of the condition known as geographic atrophy, which causes lesions on the retina.
But the authors of a new study, published Wednesday in the American journal Science Translational Medicine, say that a clinical trial of the therapy lampalizumab reduced lesion expansion by 20 percent, thereby thwarting the destruction of light-sensing cells.
The 18-month phase two clinical trial tested the safety and efficacy of the antibody on 129 patients. The treatment produced no serious side effects, according to the study.
Researchers found that the treatment reduced by 44 percent the condition’s progression in a subgroup of patients carrying a certain genetic marker, known as CFI+. But in some patients with the genetic trait CFI-, the therapy had no effect.
The results of two phase three clinical trials including 936 patients will be available in 2019. Age-related macular degeneration negatively impacts the central part of the retina — the macula — which is vital for reading, writing and recognizing faces.
The condition results from a gradual aging of photoreceptor neurons that capture light, which is transformed into signals and sent to the brain to produce images. (Agence France-Presse)
789053 943667I dont leave plenty of comments on plenty of blogs each week but i felt i had to here. Do you need to have a lot of drafts to make a post? 923480
926227 414589I saw your post awhile back and saved it to my computer. Only recently have I got a chance to checking it and need to let you know nice function. 481802
909626 830640This design is steller! You naturally know how to maintain a reader amused. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own weblog (well, almostHaHa!) Wonderful job. I truly enjoyed what you had to say, and much more than that, how you presented it. Too cool! 923926
224875 272742Hey, you used to write wonderful, but the last few posts have been kinda boring I miss your tremendous writings. Past few posts are just slightly out of track! come on! 12848
332225 585097I like this internet site extremely a lot so significantly exceptional information. 36817
226067 933251I discovered your weblog web site on google and check just a couple of of your early posts. Proceed to maintain up the exceptional operate. I just extra up your RSS feed to my MSN Information Reader. Seeking forward to reading far more from you in a whilst! 371167
993005 572469I believe this web web site has some rattling fantastic information for every person : D. 194301