Adelaide Researchers Complete 1st Human Photoswitch Trial for Blindness, Showing Early Vision Gains
Updated
Updated · Newswise · Jul 1
Adelaide Researchers Complete 1st Human Photoswitch Trial for Blindness, Showing Early Vision Gains
2 articles · Updated · Newswise · Jul 1
Summary
A first-in-human pilot trial found a photoswitch drug was well tolerated in people with retinitis pigmentosa, with no serious adverse events or harmful eye effects.
Injected into the eye, the small molecule appeared to make damaged retinal cells light-sensitive again even after normal photoreceptors had been lost.
Several participants reported short-term improvements on visual tests, including walking tasks, and one person noticed greater light awareness within two days; brain scans also showed activity in visual areas after treatment.
The approach could work across many forms of retinal degeneration because, unlike gene therapies, it does not target specific mutations or require genetic modification.
Nature Medicine published the findings, Kiora Pharmaceuticals supported the study, and a larger Phase 2 trial is already underway to test whether the treatment can meaningfully improve vision.
With retinal implants offering permanent artificial vision, why pursue a drug with only temporary effects?
A new drug makes nerve cells 'see' light, but what does this artificial vision actually look like?
ABACUS-1 Trial Completes: KIO-301 Photoswitch Offers Hope for Retinitis Pigmentosa and Inherited Retinal Disease Patients
Overview
The ABACUS-1 clinical trial, completed in 2026, marks a major step forward in treating Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). This first-in-human study evaluated KIO-301, an innovative intravitreal 'photoswitch' molecule designed to reanimate vision in RP. Unlike gene therapies, KIO-301 uses a gene-agnostic approach, aiming to restore light sensitivity for patients with any of over 100 genetic mutations, especially those with profound vision loss. The trial’s encouraging results show that KIO-301 is safe and feasible, supporting further research into its ability to help people with inherited retinal diseases regain functional vision.