Eyestem Research & Ikerian AG Partner with RetinAI to Advance Geographic Atrophy with AI

Eyestem Research, Ikerian AG, and RetinAI have partnered to leverage AI for ophthalmology, enhancing the treatment of geographic atrophy and advancing research to combat eye diseases worldwide.

Eyestem Research, a Bangalore-based biotechnology company specialising in cell therapy, has partnered with Ikerian AG and RetinAI Inc US (RetinAI), a leader in clinical and imaging data management software and advanced AI-driven analytics for ophthalmology.

The collaboration will leverage RetinAI's discovery platform and AI tools to further Eyestem's mission to enhance the treatment of geographic atrophy with its innovative cell therapy, Eyecyte-RPE.

Commenting on the collaboration, Dr Jogin Desai, founder and CEO of Eyestem, said, "This collaboration with RetinAI marks a significant milestone in our journey. Their sophisticated AI tools and the RetinAI Discovery platform align perfectly with our vision, potentially shortening the timelines for our clinical trials and enhancing the accuracy of our analyses. This is not just a partnership; it's a confluence of high-end biotech innovation and cutting-edge artificial intelligence aiming to rewrite the narrative for patients affected by geographic atrophy worldwide."

Geographic atrophy, a late-stage form of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is a significant global health concern. Dry AMD currently affects 200 million individuals worldwide, leading to irreversible vision loss. With an ageing population, the prevalence of this severe eye disease is increasing rapidly.

Eyestem is poised to initiate its Phase I/IIa clinical trials for Eyecyte-RPE, a multi-centre, dose escalation, and expansion trial designed to assess the safety and efficacy of Eyecyte-RPE for geographic atrophy. RetinAI's Discovery platform will play a central role in data management and image analysis for the study.

Additionally, RetinAI's advanced segmentation model will be used to identify and quantify retinal biomarkers in geographic atrophy. This automated analysis will provide real-time insights into clinical endpoints, expediting critical decision-making.

Sharing thoughts on the same, Dr Carlos Ciller, CEO of RetinAI, said, "We are excited to partner with Eyestem, known for its forward-thinking approach to biotechnology and cell therapy. Our AI-driven Discovery platform is poised to significantly accelerate research and provide enhanced insights into disease progression and outcomes. Together, we're confident that this synergy will not only enrich insights in the development of novel treatments but also manifest in delivering life-altering solutions faster to individuals affected by retinal diseases globally."

The strategic partnership comes at a crucial time when innovative approaches to address geographic atrophy and related eye diseases are in high demand. By combining Eyestem's cell therapy with RetinAI's AI-driven tools, the collaboration aims to advance the understanding of retinal diseases and expedite the development of effective treatments.

In a similar development in ophthalmology, Apollo Hospitals in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, introduced ophthalmic technology with the unveiling of the FEMTO LDV Z8 from a latest generation ophthalmology laser machine, Zeimer.

The Hospital claims this is a first-of-its-kind, state-of-the-art ophthalmic machine that offers a wide range of advanced eye procedures, including laser cataract surgery, customised laser refractive surgery (CLEAR lenticule extraction) and various laser-assisted corneal transplantation surgeries, promising remarkable precision, enhanced safety and minimal impact on surrounding tissue.