In a study recently published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, researchers demonstrated the potential of intravitreal transplantation of retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) to significantly slow down photoreceptor degeneration in a rat model. The study details how RPCs (jCell; JCyte Inc) were injected into the vitreous body of the eye, leading to substantial preservation of retinal structure and function.

The jCell therapy works by releasing neurotrophic factors essential for maintaining the health and function of retinal cells. In the study, rats treated with jCell showed a marked reduction in the progression of photoreceptor loss, as well as improvements in visual function. These promising results were seen across multiple metrics, including retinal thickness and photoreceptor survival rates.

The research underscores the therapeutic potential of RPCs in treating degenerative retinal diseases like retinitis pigmentosa. The jCell therapy has advanced through several clinical trials in humans with retinitis pigmentosa, and the company is gearing up for a phase 2/3 pivotal trial after a successful meeting with the FDA earlier this year.

The researchers were affiliated with the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute at the University of California, Irvine, and with the University of California, Santa Barbara. Their work was supported by a grant from the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine.