NEI awards grant to Cole Eye, Arteriocyte

Cleveland-The National Eye Institute (NEI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded a $310,000 grant to Arteriocyte and the Cleveland Clinic's Cole Eye Institute.

As a part of its small business technology transfer program, Arteriocyte will use the grant to evaluate its cellular therapy product (ACY001) as a potential treatment for diabetic retinopathy.

Treatment for hypoxia, one of the main causes of diabetic retinopathy, is the aim of researchers.

Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness among 8 million patients in the United States alone, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

"We are thrilled to have the NIH's support in Arteriocyte's efforts to translate our cellular therapies further into disease categories with significant unmet medical need. The NEI's vote of confidence provides validation for our cellular therapy research and stresses the importance of continuing to develop this potential therapy," said Don Brown, Arteriocyte chief executive officer. "The grant provides an opportunity to understand better the effects on treating retinal neovascular disease with a cellular therapy designed to improve blood flow."