UCL joins forces with AstraZeneca to develop stem cell treatments for retinopathy

UCL has agreed a collaboration with AstraZeneca to develop stem cell therapies for diabetic retinopathy, the most common cause of vision impairment among people of working age in western societies.

The majority of patients with Type I diabetes will develop retinopathy and about 20–30 per cent will become blind. A large number of patients with Type II diabetes will develop retinopathy as the underlying disease progresses.

Under the terms of the three-year agreement, AstraZeneca and scientists at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology will collaborate to identify new therapeutic tools that modulate the regenerative capacity of stem cells.

Marcus Fruttiger of the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and leader of the project said, “These tools could be used either to manufacture transplantable material or to directly stimulate new cell growth in the eye to help restore or improve the vision of those with diabetic retinopathy.”

Alan Lamont, Director of Sciences and Technology Alliances at AstraZeneca, said, “Over the next few years, stem cell technology is likely to contribute to a measurable improvement in our ability to discover and develop candidate drugs, and to target those drugs to the right patient population through a better understanding of the disease process. We are delighted to be combining our drug hunting expertise with the pioneering research ongoing at UCL.”