Efficacy and Safety of Autologous Cultivated Limbal Stem Cells Transplantation (ACLSCT) for Restoration of Corneal Epithelium in Patients With Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency

This is a multinational, multicentre, prospective, open label, uncontrolled clinical trial.

Patients will be screened according to the Study Inclusion and Exclusion criteria and will be candidates for the ACLSCT if all eligibility criteria are met.

Patients then will undergo limbal biopsy for the collection of limbal stem cells for product manufacturing. The confirmation of the eligibility criteria is followed by a roll-in phase of approximately 6 months. At the end of the roll-in period, Holoclar will be implanted through a specific surgical procedure.

After ACLSCT, efficacy assessments will be performed at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months for both first and second treatment (the latter only when applicable). One year after the transplantation, efficacy will be adjudicated by two independent assessors (primary and key secondary endpoints) and the study completion will be reached when 1 year of follow-up after the last transplant in the last patient will be accomplished.

Inclusion criteria

• Written informed consent prior to any study-related procedures.
• Adult male and female patients (≥18 years old); Five Paediatric patients aged 2 to 17 years will be also enrolled for safety purposes only.
• LSCD secondary to unilateral or bilateral physical or chemical ocular burns, with at least 1-2 mm2 of undamaged limbus to harvest stem cells for expansion in culture. LSCD will be considered for inclusion in presence of superficial neo-vascularization invading at least two corneal quadrants with central corneal involvement (including corneal neo-vascularisation, corneal opacity or corneal dyschromia) according to the independent assessors;
• Stability of LSCD, defined by a duration of disease of at least 24 months at the time of the Screening Visit and presence of continuum epithelium as per fluorescein staining scored as none or trace.
• Presence of severe impairment in visual acuity defined by a score of 1/10th or below 20/200 at the Snellen chart (legal blindness) after best correction (i.e. Best Corrected Visual Acuity);
• Absence of other clinical contraindications to ACLSC transplantation based upon investigator's judgment;
• A cooperative attitude to follow up the study procedures (Caregivers in case of minors).

Exclusion criteria

• LSCD of mild degree (i.e. below 2 quadrants of neo-vessel invasion without central corneal), due to a recent burn (less than 24 months before screening), or secondary to medical conditions other than burns (i.e. radiotherapy);
• Severe ocular inflammation according to the Efron Grading Scale for Contact Lens Complications. Patient can be re-screened after appropriate treatment;
• Presence of eyelids malposition;
• Conjunctival scarring with fornix shortening;
• Severe tear secretion deficiency, determined by Schirmer's test type I (<5 mm/ 5 min);
• Corneal anaesthesia and conjunctival anaesthesia;
• Active local or systemic infections at the time of screening. Patient can be re-screened after appropriate treatment;
• Diagnosis of local or systemic neoplastic disease;
• Congenital diseases (i.e., Aniridia);
• Bilateral inflammatory diseases (i.e. Stevens-Johnson syndrome, phemphigoid);
• A pre-existing blindness precluding a functional recovery;
• Female subjects: pregnant or lactating women and all women physiologically capable of becoming pregnant (i.e. women of childbearing potential) UNLESS are willing to use one or more reliable methods of contraception (i.e. contraceptive methods other than oral contraceptives, IUD, tubal ligature). Reliable contraception should be maintained throughout the study. Any postmenopausal women (physiologic menopause defined as "12 consecutive months of amenorrhea") or women permanently sterilized (e.g. tubal occlusion, hysterectomy or bilateral salpingectomy) may be enrolled in the study. Parental control will be applied for the pediatric population when needed.
• Allergy, sensitivity or intolerance to concomitant drugs or excipients (Hypersensitivity to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1 or to bovine serum and murine 3T3-J2 cells);
• Contraindications to the local or systemic antibiotics and/ or corticosteroids foreseen by the protocol;
• Contraindications to the surgical procedure;
• Clinically significant or unstable concurrent disease or other clinical contraindications to stem cell transplantation based upon investigator's judgment or other concomitant medical conditions affecting grafting procedure;
• Patients (or parents in case of paediatric subject) unlikely to comply with the study protocol or unable to understand the nature and scope of the study or the possible benefits or unwanted effects of the study procedures and treatments.
• Participation in another clinical trial where investigational drug was received less than 4 weeks prior to screening visit.