Drug firm joins hunt for stem cell therapy

Drug firm AstraZeneca and University College London are working together to develop regenerative medicines for diabetic retinopathy (DR).

UCL stated that by 2030 there would be more than 438 million sufferers of diabetes and its complications worldwide. It has agreed a three-year deal to work with AstraZeneca to identify new therapeutic tools to modulate the regenerative capacity of stem cells. Researchers hope to create a compound in around three to five years, which could then undergo clinical development and possibly be on the market within 10 years.

Project leader Dr Marcus Fruttiger of UCL, said: 'These tools can be used either to manufacture transplantable material or to directly stimulate new cell growth in the eye to help restore or improve the vision of those with DR.'