Advanced Cell Technology

Ocata Therapeutics of Marlborough, which researches treatments for eye diseases, has agreed to be sold to Astellas Pharma Inc. of Japan for $379 million, the two companies announced late Monday.

Marlborough's Ocata Therapeutics has enrolled its first patient for its Phase 2 clinical trial of a treatment for dry age-related macular degeneration (dry AMD), the company announced.

Ocata Therapeutics of Marlborough has been awarded a federal grant to help pay for further preclinical development of a potential treatment for two forms of lupus, representing a new potential product line, the company announced Monday.

Ocata Therapeutics of Marlborough has secured another patent for its technology aimed at treating some forms of macular degeneration, the company announced last week.

Marlborough's Ocata Therapeutics has been awarded three new patents connected to its stem-cell transplant technology for treating macular degenerative diseases.

A new study has affirmed encouraging results for treating macular degeneration using Ocata Therapeutics' stem-cell line RPE, the Marlborough company reported

Marlborough's Ocata Therapeutics announced Tuesday a licensing agreement with Allele Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals of San Diego.

Marlborough's Ocata Therapeutics (formerly Advanced Cell Technology) reported a net loss of $34.7 million in 2014, 12 percent higher than its net loss in 2013.

A stem cell-derived eye treatment from Advanced Cell Technology (ACT) of Marlborough has been found to have long-term safety in a study where some patients showed improved vision. The study, published in “The Lancet,” followed 18 patients to evaluate the safety and tolerability of human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) cells following sub-retinal transplantation into patients, according to a release from ACT. The proprietary cells from ACT were implanted for the treatment of Stargardt's macular degeneration (SMD) and dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The study demonstrated positive long-term safety results, according to ACT.

Advanced Cell Technology has completed the initial phase of its clinical-trial treatment for Stargardt's macular degeneration (SMD), a genetic eye disorder that causes progressive vision loss, the Marlborough company announced.