Eyestem Research, a Bengaluru-based biotechnology company specialising in cell therapy approaches, has entered a strategic partnership with Ikerian AG and RetinAI Inc. in the US, a pioneer in clinical and imaging data management software and advanced artificial intelligence (AI)-driven analytics for ophthalmology.

Leveraging RetinAI’s Discovery® platform and AI tools will enable Eyestem to advance in its mission to revolutionise treatment for geographic atrophy with its innovative cell therapy, Eyecyte-RPE™.

“This collaboration with RetinAI marks a significant milestone in our journey,” said Dr Jogin Desai, Founder and CEO of Eyestem. “Their sophisticated AI tools and the RetinAI Discovery® platform integrate 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 health concern worldwide. Currently, dry AMD affects 200 million individuals globally, contributing to irreversible vision loss. Compounded by an aging population, the prevalence of this serious eye disease is escalating at an alarming rate.

Eyestem is taking a significant step forward by preparing to initiate its Phase I/IIa clinical trials for Eyecyte-RPE™. This multi-centre, dose escalation, and expansion trial aims to assess Eyecyte-RPE™’s safety and efficacy for geographic atrophy. This trial will benefit from RetinAI’s Discovery® platform, which will centralise data management and image analysis for the study. Moreover, RetinAI’s advanced segmentation model will be leveraged for the identification and quantification of retinal biomarkers in geographic atrophy. This automated analysis will provide real-time insights on clinical endpoints, speeding up critical decision-making.