RetGen

Results confirm that CNTF can be safely delivered into the vitreous of patients with RP and that the ECT device was well tolerated by all patients. Futhermore, some patients experienced more than one-line of improvement in their visual acuity score. These Phase I results were presented at the ARVO annual meeting and the trial was conducted at the National Eye Institute (NEI), Bethesda, USA. Neurotech has confirmed that it will now progress to a multi-center Phase II trial.

ECT, a technique developed and patented by Neurotech, allows for genetically-engineered specific protein delivery without manipulating the patient's genetic information or transferring new genetic information into the target tissue. The Phase I study of NT-501 involved 10 patients with late-stage RP. The study was designed as an open-label safety and tolerability evaluation. Two doses of CNTF (5-fold difference in dose) were evaluated. Phase Ia treated 5 patients with a lower dose; Phase Ib treated 5 patients with a higher dose. The ECT device was implanted in one eye per patient and removed after six months.
'Phase I Data for NT- 501 Encapsulated Cell Delivery of Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor to Eyes of Retinitis Pigmentosa Patients' Neurotech media release at Medical News Today, 2 May 2005.