ISRAEL, THE BEATING HEART OF REGENERATIVE MEDICINE: IN JERUSALEM, WORK IS UNDERWAY TO RESTORE SIGHT AND HEARING TO HUMANITY

At the Bio Park of Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem, researchers at Cellcure Neurosciences Ltd, a subsidiary of Lineage Cell Therapeutics, are working to advance regenerative medicine through the development of specialized human cells.

Their goal is to replace cells lost due to disease, injury, or aging, offering a potential new approach to conditions that currently have limited therapeutic options.

Unlike conventional drugs, which primarily act on symptoms, Lineage develops functional cells designed to replicate those naturally present in the body. Through guided differentiation, pluripotent stem cells are directed toward specific terminally differentiated cell types, such as retinal cells to address vision loss or auditory nerve cells to treat hearing disorders.

The company’s most advanced clinical program is OpRegen®, a retinal pigment epithelial cell therapy currently in Phase 2a development as part of a global collaboration with Roche and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, for the treatment of geographic atrophy secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). If successful, it could represent an option for patients for whom very few approved treatments are currently available.

Lineage has also launched the ReSonance (ANP1) program, which aims to address auditory neuropathy. In this condition, the auditory nerve cells that transmit sound signals to the brain are impaired or absent, resulting in significant hearing difficulties. By developing replacement auditory nerve cells, researchers hope to restore part of the auditory pathway and potentially improve the performance of cochlear implants. ReSonance is currently under development thanks to a multi-year research collaboration and investment from William Demant Invest A/S (WDI), an evergreen investor and holding company for the investment activities of the William Demant Foundation, the majority shareholder of Demant A/S, a global leader in hearing health.

Behind these advances are scientists such as Dr. Micol Di Segni, of Italian origin, who works as a Research and Development analyst at Lineage’s subsidiary Cell Cure Neurosciences in Jerusalem. Her work focuses on the careful monitoring of cells during the delicate process of their transformation into functional nerve cells, ensuring their identity, quality, and ultimately their ability to restore function in patients.

“It is both exciting and challenging to be part of a team developing a potential therapy for auditory neuropathy, a condition with so few treatment options,” explains Micol. “What motivates us is the idea that our work could one day help people regain their hearing.”

Although it is still in the research and clinical trial phase, Lineage’s work illustrates how regenerative medicine is evolving from concept to practical application. By focusing on therapies that replace lost cells, the company is contributing to initiatives that could one day expand treatment options in fields such as the restoration of sight and hearing. As these innovations move from the laboratory to the clinic, they carry with them not only the promise of treatment, but also the possibility of restoring some of humanity’s most vital senses: vision and hearing.

Luciano Bassani