MultiCell announces collaboration with Columbia University on eye disease drug

By Ted A. Knutson

Washington, Dec. 1 - MultiCell Technologies, Inc. announced Thursday that it has entered into a research agreement with the Columbia University Medical Center to investigate whether a particular anti-apoptosis compound can protect against retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death in acute and chronic in vivo models of optic neuropathy.

MultiCell will fund research at Columbia and will have an option to enter into an exclusive worldwide license for any invention resulting from the research.

The project is designed to determine whether the compound can protect against RGC death in acute and chronic in vivo models of optic neuropathy. The underlying mechanisms of RGC death are not fully understood, though RGC apoptosis has been heavily implicated in many ocular neurodegenerative diseases. Given the delicate balance between the survival and death signals in neuronal cells, molecules that are capable of inhibiting apoptosis are strongly considered as future therapeutic options for the treatment of ocular neurodegenerative diseases, the company said in the news release.

"As we continue developing and commercializing therapeutic products, macular degeneration presents a significant opportunity," said Dr. Stephen Chang, president of MultiCell.

Macular degeneration, a common ocular neurodegenerative disease that causes deterioration of the macula, is a primary focus of the research effort between MultiCell and Columbia. Sharp, clear, "straight ahead" vision is processed by the macula, which is located in the central part of the retina. Damage to the macula results in the development of blind spots and blurred or distorted vision. Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is a major cause of visual impairment in the United States, and for people over age 65 it is the leading cause of legal blindness among Caucasians.

About 1.8 million Americans age 40 and older have advanced ARMD, and another 7.3 million people with intermediate ARMD are at substantial risk for vision loss. The U.S. government estimates by 2020 there will be 2.9 million people with advanced ARMD.

Lincoln, R.I.-based MultiCell Technologies is a developer of therapeutic products and a supplier of immortalized human cell lines for drug discovery applications.

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