10109726Investigating Angicyte, a novel vasoreparative cell therapy for the treatment of Ischaemic RetinopathyClosedLaunchpadInnovate UKVascVersa is developing a radical new cell therapy called Angicyte for the treatment of ischaemic diseases (diseases characterised by lack of blood supply). Angicyte promotes the formation of new blood vessels and induces vascular healing, therefore will be of benefit for multiple vascular diseases. Research by the company and Queen's University Belfast has established that Angicyte may benefit retinal ischaemia by rescuing retinal blood vessels. Ischaemic retinopathies are a major cause of blindness. This group of disorders are characterised by changes in the retinal microvasculature leading to inadequate blood supply which damages the normal retinal vessels and induces pathological alterations, leading to blindness if left untreated. Despite decades of research, there is no cure for retinal ischaemia. Current treatments such as anti-VEGFs, steroid injections and laser therapy target only late stages of the disease when pathological changes have already occurred. This condition profoundly impacts patients' quality of life and limits their ability to work and drive. These retinopathies are an enormous healthcare burden in the UK and globally, and the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy continues to increase as rates of type two diabetes rise. The global population living with diabetic retinopathy is estimated to reach 174 million in 2045\. The financial burden for the NHS is greater than £60 million annually and it is predicted to cost more than £96 million by 2035\. Cell therapies are emerging as exciting new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. A vascular therapy such as Angicyte has the potential to revascularise and rescue the ischaemic retina. In this 8-month project, VascVersa will work with MediNect, a Northern Irish company specialising in preclinical models of eye diseases, with the goal to examine the potential of Angicyte for ischaemic retinopathies. These experiments will: evaluate whether Angicyte therapy is beneficial; establish the best dosing and delivery strategy; and analyse the safety of Angicyte for retinal delivery. This project will allow VascVersa to make a major step in developing this second disease indication for Angicyte, and the data generated from this project will form the foundation for meeting with the regulatory bodies for a later clinical trial. Having a second disease indication for Angicyte therapy will be of huge benefit to VascVersa and allow the company to grow as a leading cell therapy developer in Northern Ireland.