A new medication brings hope to the blind and stimulates the regeneration of eye cells.
May 13, 2025132 ViewsRead Time: 2 minutes
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A team of scientists in South Korea has succeeded in conducting preliminary tests on a new drug that may revolutionize the treatment of vision loss, as the treatment has shown the ability to stimulate the regeneration of nerve cells in the retina.
This drug aims to enhance the eye's self-healing ability by delivering antibodies that stimulate the regeneration of nerve cells in the retina, potentially leading to vision restoration for those who have lost it.
The treatment relies on a compound of antibodies that block a protein called "Prox 1," which is not harmful in itself, as it plays a crucial role in cell regulation.
However, it has been found that this protein hinders the ability of retinal nerves to regenerate. Specifically, the Prox 1 protein leaks into nerve support cells in the retina called "Muller Glial (MG) cells" after damage occurs, preventing these cells from renewing nerves in the eye's retina.
Research has shown that these cells in cold-blooded organisms, such as fish, can regenerate retinal nerves, but in mammals, like humans, the Prox 1 protein inhibits this process.
Therefore, the new treatment blocks this protein, allowing retinal cells to regenerate and restore lost vision.
So far, this treatment has been tested on mice, and the experiments have successfully stimulated the regeneration of nerve cells in the eye.
Although these results suggest the potential success of the treatment in humans, researchers emphasize that more work needs to be done before it can be applied in clinical trials on humans.
According to sources, clinical trials are expected to begin by 2028.
This research is part of broad efforts aimed at repairing eye damage, whether through methods like laser activation of retinal cells or implanting new stem cells in the eye.
While the research is still in its early stages, this discovery offers hope for restoring vision to many patients suffering from retinal diseases that lead to vision loss.
