| | DECEMBER 2021 8OPINIONIN MYAdvanced therapies have revolutionized the field of medicine, offering the potential to go beyond just alleviating symptoms. In recent years, we have seen a tremendous increase in the number of cell and gene therapies in development. While these treatments have potential in a wide range of therapeutic areas, Santen sees a particular promise in allogeneic stem cell therapies, particularly the use of human retinal progenitor cells (hRPCs), to treat inherited retinal diseases. Defining Times: The Rise of Advanced TherapiesWe are living through a defining period for the future of advanced therapies. While the transformative potential of these treatments is widely acknowledged by the scientific community, patients, healthcare professionals, and beyond, the sector faces a number of challenges across key dimensions of the product life cycle. Ongoing discussions at the policy level, such as the implementation of the new pharmaceutical strategy by the European Commission and the revision of current legislation on rare diseases, will determine future accessibility and affordability of advanced therapies. At this pivotal time, I take the opportunity to explore the many benefits cell therapies bring to ophthalmology and to highlight why Santen is investing in this exciting and promising field. Within the domain of cell therapy, two distinctive methods for cell collection have emerged, autologous (self-derived) and allogeneic (donor-derived). Each has benefits in specific clinical applications. For the treatment of inherited retinal disorders, allogeneic methods using hRPCs offer a number of advantages. Allogeneic Stem Cell Therapies in Inherited Retinal Diseases The differences in the effects between multipotent and more specialized cells such as hRPCs are complex, and a number of cell types are being studied in ophthalmic diseases. hRPCs are a HOW ALLOGENEIC STEM CELL THERAPIES CAN TRANSFORM PROSPECTS IN INHERITED RETINAL DISEASESBy Gil Carrasquinho, VP Head of Cell Therapy, Santen
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