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A revolutionary approach to treating chemical burns in the eye begins a clinical trial.
For the first time, a tissue softening enzyme, collagenase, will be used in patients with acid attacks or industrial accidents.
It follows research conducted by a team from Newcastle University in the UK, which showed earlier this year that the application of collagenase to the cornea softened the underlying tissue, thus allowing stem cells located there to repair the damage.
The first test in humans will examine the effectiveness of the enzyme in softening the underlying tissue of the eye, thus allowing the patient's own stem cells to repair the damage and restore the view of the patient.
Each year, about 2 million people worldwide become blind as a result of corneal trauma. One in five cases is caused by chemical burns to the eye.
The trial involving 30 patients is funded by the Ulverscroft Foundation, a UK charity that supports organizations helping the visually impaired. It will be performed in collaboration with Dr. Sayan Basu and Vivek Singh at the world-renowned LV Prasad Institute in Hyderabad, India.
Professor Che Connon, director of the study and head of the tissue engineering laboratory at Newcastle University, said:
The simplicity and relatively low cost of this therapy over existing approaches in which stem cells are to be transplanted is a game changer. It dramatically increases the number of potential patients treated for corneal burns around the world and could also have applications in other diseases. "
The technology behind the clinical trial
Previous research by the Newcastle team recreated the effects of chemical burns and treated the injured and stiffened corneal areas using small localized doses of collagenase. The enzyme has made the area once more foldable and able to support the patient's own stem cells and promote healing.
The collagenase formulation has already been approved for therapeutic applications related by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency. The team was quickly able to integrate it into clinical trials.
Dr. Ricardo Gouveia, Research Fellow at Newcastle University and lead author of the research, is very optimistic about this next step. He stated:
As a scientist, it is exceptionally rewarding to participate in a laboratory-to-bedside project, using a scientific discovery to create a new treatment that benefits patients and improves living conditions. This is especially true when this work is made possible through the support of an organization such as the Ulverscroft Foundation. "
The Ulverscroft Foundation was established in 1973 to help the visually impaired. It supports research on the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases and finances medical equipment and facilities.
Appropriate participants will be selected by an LV Prasad Eye Institute evaluation team after careful medical and ethical approval. The results of the test are expected in 2021.
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