IRD stem cell trial begins

August 22, 2025 Staff reporters

The first patient has been dosed in the phase 1/2a clinical trial of OpCT-001, the first induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSCs)-derived investigational cell therapy for primary photoreceptor diseases including retinitis pigmentosa and cone-rod dystrophy.

BlueRock Therapeutics’ OpCT-001 was granted fast-track designation by the US Food & Drug Administration early this year. The Clarico study, the first-in-human trial of OpCT-001, will involve up to 54 adults with primary photoreceptor disease and will focus on safety with a dose-escalation design, said the company.

The initiation of the Clarico trial represents a key milestone for the OpCT-001 programme, said Dr Amit Rakhit, BlueRock’s chief development and medical officer. “We believe OpCT-001 holds significant promise as a novel therapeutic approach for restoring vision in people living with primary photoreceptor diseases.”

https://www.nzoptics.co.nz/live-articles/new-drops-slow-rp-vision-loss/

https://www.nzoptics.co.nz/live-articles/step-closer-for-stargardt-treatment/