PulseSight Therapeutics has announced that the first patient has been dosed in its phase 1 clinical trial evaluating PST-611, a first-in-class non-viral gene therapy for dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and geographic atrophy (GA).
Dry AMD is the leading cause of central vision loss among the elderly, affecting 200 million people worldwide. Current treatment options remain limited.
PST-611 expresses human transferrin, an iron regulator that restores iron balance in the retina. Iron dysregulation contributes to inflammation, oxidative stress and retinal cell death—hallmarks of dry AMD and GA.
The PST-611-CT1 study is being conducted in Paris and Grenoble by Professor Francine Behar-Cohen and Professor Christophe Chiquet. The trial will assess safety and tolerability in six to 12 patients and determine the highest tolerated dose.
Professor Behar-Cohen said: “Having pioneered the development of the electro-transfection technology that delivers DNA plasmids encoding therapeutic proteins into the ciliary muscle of the eye, I am very excited to move PST-611, expressing transferrin, into its first clinical trial.”
Preliminary results are expected in early 2026, depending on patient recruitment progress.
PulseSight believes PST-611’s mechanism and sustained protein expression could reduce the need for frequent reinjections, improving patient adherence to treatment.
CEO Judith Greciet said: “The dosing of the first patient in our PST-611-CT1 trial is a very exciting milestone for the company. Supported by the previous clinical demonstration of the safety profile of our innovative delivery technology and a solid pre-clinical package, we believe PST-611 holds the potential to improve both anatomical and functional features of dry AMD/GA.”
Once safety and dosage are confirmed, the company plans to begin a phase 2a proof-of-concept study.
