Scientists in Britain have developed the world’s first stem cell therapy to cure the most common cause of blindness. The treatment will tackle age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common cause of blindness. Many respected surgeons are predicting that it will become a routine, one-hour procedure that will be generally available in six or seven years’ time.
The treatment involves replacing a layer of degenerated cells with new ones created from embryonic stem cells. It was pioneered by scientists and surgeons from the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London and Moorfields eye hospital.
Pfizer, the world’s largest pharmaceutical research company, will announce its financial backing to bring the therapy to patients.
