PulseSight doses first dry AMD patient with nonviral gene therapy

Paris-based PulseSight Therapeutics has dosed the first patient in its phase 1 clinical trial evaluating PST-611, a first-in-class nonviral gene therapy for dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and its more advanced stage, geographic atrophy.

Late-stage dry AMD/GA, which involves the dysregulation of iron homeostasis, is a progressive disease that leads to vision loss. PST-61, PulseSight’s lead program, is a potential first-in-class nonviral vectorized therapy expressing human transferrin, a highly potent iron regulator that plays a central role in restoring normal iron homeostasis.

The phase 1 trial, PST-611-CT1, is a first-in-human single ascending dose study that aims to establish, in six to a maximum of 12 dry AMD/GA patients, the safety profile of PST-61 and validate the maximal tolerated dose. Preliminary results are anticipated early 2026, subject to patient recruitment.

There are currently no approved vision-improving treatments for dry AMD. Back in March, Luxa Biotech announced clinical data from a phase 1/2a trial evaluating its retinal pigment epithelium cell therapy for patients with dry AMD, reporting “substantial” best corrected visual acuity improvements.