Eyestem’s Dr. Jogin Desai Presents Landmark Phase 1 Results of Eyecyte-RPE™ Trial at Innoxbio CGT 2025

Eyestem’s Dr. Jogin Desai Presents Landmark Phase 1 Results of Eyecyte-RPE™ Trial at Innoxbio CGT 2025 in Guangzhou, China

 
Guangzhou, China | November 13, 2025: Eyestem Research Pvt. Ltd., a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering scalable cell therapy solutions for retinal diseases, announced the successful presentation of its groundbreaking phase one clinical trial results at the 3rd China Great Bay Cell and Gene Therapy Forum (Innoxbio CGT 2025), held on November 12–13, 2025, in Guangzhou Knowledge City. Innoxbio China Great Bay  CGT Forum  is recognized as one of the most influential global gatherings for leaders in cell and gene therapy.

Eyestem is preparing to initiate its Phase 2 clinical trial in India, subject to regulatory approvals. The company is also exploring licensing partnerships in China to advance the local development and commercialization of Eyecyte-RPE™, its flagship cell therapy. Trials in the United States are expected to commence by the middle of  next year.

Sharing key findings from Eyestem’s Phase 1 study, Dr. Jogin Desai, Founder and CEO of Eyestem, presented on “Safety and Efficacy of Eyecyte-RPE™ in a Phase 1 Trial for Treatment of Geographic Atrophy Secondary to Dry AMD.”

The trial demonstrated an average improvement of 14.8 letters in visual acuity among eight subjects at six months, and 13.3 letters in four subjects at 12 months, with no treatment related serious adverse events observed. These results underscore the strong potential of Eyestem’s investigational retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell therapy, Eyecyte-RPE™, to transform treatment outcomes for patients suffering from geographic atrophy (GA), an advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). 

Commenting on the milestone, Dr. Desai said, “Our phase one study demonstrates clinically meaningful vision rescue with an excellent safety profile, a promising step toward addressing a condition with no current approved treatments that can reverse vision loss. As we prepare to begin phase two in India and file for US IND approval in Q3 2026, we are also exploring strategic partnerships to bring this breakthrough to global markets. Collaborating with international stakeholders is crucial to our mission of making world-class, affordable cell therapies accessible to patients everywhere.” 

The forum brought together over 1,200 experts, 90+ leading speakers, and 50 exhibitors, providing a platform for collaboration across the global cell and gene therapy ecosystem. Dr. Desai’s session was part of the Ophthalmology and Rare Diseases track, highlighting the vital role of regenerative medicine in addressing unmet needs in vision care. 

For more information, please visit: https://eyestem.com/

About Eyecyte-RPE™
Eyecyte-RPE™, derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), is a proprietary retinal cell therapy product with a novel composition, developed and patented by Eyestem Research. The product can help replace the damaged or lost retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and potentially enable tissue regeneration in the diseased retina. This unique formulation is allogeneic, scalable, and can be stored as a frozen vial for long periods of time.

About Geographic Atrophy
Dry AMD is the leading cause of blindness for people over 50. Geographic atrophy (GA) is an advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) that leads to progressive and irreversible loss of central vision, characterized by the death of cells in the macula, the central part of the retina. Approximately 196 million people suffer from dry AMD globally, five million of whom suffer from GA.

About Eyestem Research
Eyestem Research, headquartered in Bangalore, India, and Delaware, USA, is dedicated to creating scalable, high-quality cell therapy solutions for retinal diseases. Backed by decades of expertise in pharmaceutical product development, retinal surgery, and cell biology, Eyestem has received national and international recognition, including being named India’s top innovator across all sectors by The Economic Times in 2022. The company has also received multiple prestigious grants from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, and has been recognized as one of India’s most innovative biotechnology companies.