A groundbreaking clinical trial is underway in the U.S. to explore whether stem cell–derived retinal sheets can help preserve or restore vision in people with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The study is sponsored by Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc. and represents one of the most advanced attempts yet to bring stem cell therapies into clinical practice for inherited retinal diseases.
What Is Being Tested?
The investigational therapy, DSP-3077, uses retinal tissue created from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) donated from healthy individuals. Scientists reprogram these cells into a sheet of retinal cells, which is then surgically implanted beneath the retina.
Unlike gene therapies that target specific mutations, this approach could potentially benefit people with any form of RP, regardless of their genetic profile.
How the Trial Works
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One-time surgery: DSP-3077 is delivered into the subretinal space through a surgical procedure.
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Immune protection: Patients receive temporary immunosuppressive treatment to help the transplanted cells survive and integrate.
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Long-term follow-up: Participants will be monitored for five years, with additional annual check-ins afterward.
The primary focus of this study is safety, but researchers will also track whether the transplanted retinal sheets support improvements or stabilization in vision.
Who Can Participate
The trial is open to adults with RP who have significant vision loss in one eye, ranging from hand-motion vision to about 20/200. Importantly, enrollment is not limited by genetic mutation type, making this therapy accessible to a broad range of patients if proven effective.
Why It Matters
Retinitis pigmentosa is a group of inherited eye diseases that progressively damage the retina’s photoreceptor cells. Affecting approximately 2 million people worldwide, RP often begins in childhood or adolescence and can lead to legal blindness by midlife.
Currently, there are no FDA-approved treatments for most forms of RP. By transplanting healthy, lab-grown retinal tissue, researchers hope to replace lost cells and restore retinal function — a strategy that could transform the future of vision care.
Where the Trial Is Happening
This early-phase study is currently enrolling patients at research centers in Massachusetts and Minnesota, with the support of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, which is helping to raise awareness in the RP community.
Looking Ahead
While much work remains, DSP-3077 highlights the growing promise of stem cell–based therapies in tackling retinal diseases once considered untreatable. If successful, this trial could pave the way for new regenerative approaches that provide hope to individuals and families affected by RP.
