FDA Approves First Treatment for Rare Eye Disease

FDA Approves First Treatment for Rare Eye Disease
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The FDA has approved ENCELTO, the first-ever treatment for macular telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel), a rare disease that gradually robs people of central vision, SciTech Daily reported.

ENCELTO is a small implant placed at the back of the eye that steadily releases a protective protein to slow the loss of light-sensing retinal cells. Two phase 3 clinical trials, conducted over 24 months at 47 sites worldwide with 228 patients, showed a 31–55% reduction in cell damage compared with untreated eyes. The device also helped preserve retinal function, with the greatest benefits seen when treatment began early.

ENCELTO’s approval marks the first cell-based neuroprotective therapy for any degenerative retinal or central nervous system disease and could serve as a model for treating other vision and nerve disorders.