"We remain greatly encouraged by the continued positive efficacy we are seeing," said chief executive Olav Hellebø

The latest group to be treated with human retinal progenitor cells comprises patients who have a greater baseline level of visual acuity (clarity of vision) than those taking part in the clinical assessment thus far

( ) shares leapt higher on Thursday after the group said its cell therapy for blindness-causing disease retinitis pigmentosa is proving efficacious in the first group of phase II patients receiving the treatment.

This follows from February’s update from which it emerged that the first three people taking part in the phase I/II study were able to read an additional three lines of a standard eye chart.

The latest group to be treated with human retinal progenitor cells (hRPCs) comprises patients who have a greater baseline level of visual acuity (clarity of vision) than those taking part in the clinical assessment thus far.

Further data from the trial will be shared at the Sixth Annual Retinal Cell and Gene Therapy Innovation Summit, in Vancouver, Canada, later this month.

"We remain greatly encouraged by the continued positive efficacy we are seeing in the ongoing phase I/II study with our hRPC cell therapy candidate for retinitis pigmentosa,” said ReNeuron chief executive Olav Hellebø.

“We look forward to providing a further update on progress with the study at the time of the Innovation Summit in Vancouver later this month."

In mid-morning trading, ReNeuron shares soared 17% higher to 142p.

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