StemCells, Inc. Transplants First Patient in Phase II Clinical Trial for Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration

StemCells, Inc. STEM, a world leader in the research and development of cell-based therapeutics for the treatment of disorders of the brain, eye and spine, announced today that it has completed transplantation of the first subject in its Radiant Study at the Retina Foundation of the Southwest. The Phase II trial is designed to evaluate both the safety and efficacy of the Company's proprietary HuCNS-SC® platform technology (purified human neural stem cells) for the treatment of geographic atrophy (GA), the most advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). "Initiation of this fellow eye controlled Phase II clinical trial re-affirms our leadership in the study of stem cells to treat disorders of the eye," said Joel Naor, M.D., MSc, MBA, Vice President of Ophthalmology Clinical Development, at StemCells, Inc. "AMD is a debilitating condition that severely impacts quality of life for millions of people and for which there is currently no treatment. HuCNS-SC cells may have the potential to preserve vision in those affected with dry AMD and possibly other degenerative retinal disorders."