Science
Cellular reprogramming therapy enters clinical trial for glaucoma, report says
MIT Technology Review reports that a cellular rejuvenation therapy entered human testing after mouse optic nerve studies.
The short version
- Life Biosciences injected an eye therapy into a glaucoma patient in human trials following mouse optic nerve repair research.[MIT Technology Review]
- Geneticist Yuancheng Lu designed the treatment using three reprogramming genes, omitting Myc to limit cancer risks.[MIT Technology Review]
- Lu cautions that the method is a proof of concept and remains toxic to numerous cell types.[MIT Technology Review]
Key facts
- In 2018, Yuancheng Lu utilized a cellular reprogramming technique to repair optic nerves in mice.[MIT Technology Review]
- Life Biosciences announced on June 9 that it injected the experimental treatment into the eye of a glaucoma patient in clinical trials.[MIT Technology Review]
- Lu modified the reprogramming cocktail to include only the OSK genes, excluding Myc to reduce cancer risks.[MIT Technology Review]
What remains uncertain
- Lu noted that the OSK treatment is still toxic to many cell types and represents a proof of concept rather than a definitive cure.[MIT Technology Review]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.
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