Macular telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel) is a progressive eye disease that affects the retina, causing central vision loss over time. Researchers at Stanford University’s Byers Eye Institute have made significant progress in understanding the condition, which was previously thought to be a retinal vascular disease.
According to Dr. Diana Do, a retina surgeon and professor of ophthalmology, scientists discovered that MacTel is actually a neurodegenerative condition with Müller cell dysfunction. This finding has led to the development of a new treatment aimed at slowing down the rate of neurodegeneration.
Encelto, the first FDA-approved treatment for MacTel, was approved in March 2025 after two phase III clinical trials showed promising results. The treatment is an encapsulated cell-based gene therapy that releases ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), which helps to nourish and protect photoreceptors in the retina.
Studies have shown that Encelto can slow down photoreceptor loss by about 55%, providing patients with a better quality of life. Dr. Do notes that this breakthrough treatment offers hope for patients who previously had no proven treatment option for MacTel.
The FDA’s approval of Encelto marks an exciting milestone in the fight against MacTel, and researchers continue to explore new avenues for disease innovation.
Source: https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/features/hope-research-macular-telangiectasia