Diseases

Retinitis pigmentosa

Approximately 200,000 people in Europe suffer from this hereditary eye disease.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a genetically determined illness. As it can have various genetic causes, the development of therapies is very complex.

Course and intensity of RP vary greatly from patient to patient. It is assumed that external factors might play a role.

No effective therapies have been found as of yet, and the approaches used are very different. Attempts are made both to stop the photoreceptors (visual cells) from dying off and to reactivate them.

Attempts are also being made to replace diseased retinal tissue with transplants. Another line of research, primarily carried out in Germany and the U.S., aims to implant artificial photoreceptors (artificial retina). It is assumed, however, that this therapy will not produce usable results until 2004/2005.