The International Journal of Molecular Sciences has published the study Transplantation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Pigment Epithelium in a Swine Model of Geographic Atrophy carried out by Specipig, the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), the Barcelona Macula Foundation, the Blood and Tissue Bank, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, the Program for Clinical Translation of Regenerative Medicine in Catalonia and the Miguel Hernández University of Elche.

The aim of this study was to test the feasibility and safety of subretinal transplantation of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells into the healthy margins and within areas of degenerative retina in a swine animal model of geographic atrophy (GA).

Specipig participated in this biomedical research project as a leading preclinical CRO in Europe focused in pig used in medicine.

Published results might support the use of hiPSC-RPE cells to treat GA by providing a housekeeping function to aid the overwhelmed remnant RPE, which might improve its survival and therefore slow down the progression of the disease.

GA is an advanced form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and it is estimated that affects more than 5 million people worldwide. There are currently no approved treatments to reverse or halt the progression of geographic atrophy.