Seven of 10 people left nearly blind by retinitis pigmentosa became more sensitive to light after a one-time gene therapy injection paired with camera goggles, according to results published Oct. 8 in the New England Journal of Medicine. Six of them reached the researchers' threshold for a clinically meaningful gain. Some could find a doorway or follow a line on the floor while wearing the goggles.
The gains had clear limits. No patient regained normal sight, and none could read or recognize faces, according to the research institute in Basel that co-led the work. The trial was also small and was run with the company developing the treatment, so the results are early.
