# Life Biosciences ER-100 eye gene therapy trial > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/life-biosciences-antiaging-eye-gene-therapy-trial > Updated: 2026-07-30T20:41:04.000Z. Sources: 33. Developments: 9. The Phase‑1 safety study of Life Biosciences’ ER‑100 eye‑gene therapy moved from its inaugural dose on 9 June 2026 to active enrollment by mid‑July, targeting up to 18 adults with open‑angle glaucoma or non‑arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). The trial, cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in January, uses a doxycycline‑controlled viral vector to deliver three Yamanaka reprogramming factors (OCT4, SOX2, KLF4) to damaged retinal ganglion cells, avoiding the oncogenic c‑MYC factor. On 9 June 2026 the first participant was treated in Boston, Massachusetts, marking the world’s first human use of a rejuvenation‑focused gene therapy for an eye disease. The study will enroll an initial cohort of 12 patients with open‑angle glaucoma, followed by a second cohort of up to six patients with NAION. Participants will be monitored for at least five years, with primary endpoints of safety, tolerability and early signs of retinal ganglion‑cell regeneration. Co‑founder David Sinclair notes the trial tests whether restoring youthful epigenetic instructions can mitigate age‑related optic‑nerve damage; no efficacy data have been released yet. ## Claims - Life Biosciences is a U.S. biotech company developing the gene therapy ER‑100. (corroborated by 12 sources) - ER‑100 aims to rejuvenate retinal ganglion cells via partial cellular reprogramming. (corroborated by 12 sources) - The first human administration of ER‑100 was performed in June. (corroborated by 12 sources) - The U.S. FDA approved the ER‑100 clinical study in January. (corroborated by 12 sources) - The trial plans to enroll up to 18 participants. (corroborated by 12 sources) - The first cohort will include 12 patients with open‑angle glaucoma. (corroborated by 12 sources) - A second cohort of up to six patients with non‑arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) will follow. (corroborated by 12 sources) - ER‑100 delivers three of the four Yamanaka factors via a virus; gene expression is induced by doxycycline. (corroborated by 12 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-07-30: Life Biosciences' ER‑100 Gene Therapy Administered to First Patient for Glaucoma Life Biosciences' ER‑100 gene therapy was first given to a glaucoma patient in Boston, marking the inaugural human trial of a rejuvenation gene treatment for eye disease. 14 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/life-biosciences-starts-first-human-trial-of-eyerejuvenation-gene-therapy-er100 ### 2026-07-17: Life Biosciences Begins Human Trial of Anti‑Aging Eye Drug ER‑100 Life Biosciences has started a Phase 1 trial of ER‑100, an epigenetic eye drug targeting glaucoma and NAION, enrolling about 18 patients after FDA IND clearance. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/life-biosciences-begins-human-trial-of-antiaging-eye-drug-er100 ### 2026-06-19: Life Biosciences begins first‑in‑human anti‑aging eye gene therapy trial Life Biosciences launched a first‑in‑human trial of ER‑100, a gene therapy that reprograms eye cells to treat glaucoma, aiming to prove safety and anti‑aging benefits. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/life-biosciences-initiates-firstinhuman-antiaging-eye-gene-therapy-trial ### 2026-06-15: First Human Receives Gene Therapy to Rejuvenate Eye in United States A Boston biotech firm began the first human trial of an eye‑rejuvenating gene therapy, injecting a virus carrying reprogramming genes into a glaucoma patient’s eye, with safety switches to limit tumor risk. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/first-human-receives-gene-therapy-to-rejuvenate-eye-in-united-states ### 2026-06-14: Life Biosciences administers first human cell‑reprogramming therapy for glaucoma Life Biosciences injected its ER‑100 cell‑reprogramming therapy into a glaucoma patient, marking the first human trial aimed at rejuvenating optic‑nerve cells. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/life-biosciences-administers-first-human-cellreprogramming-therapy-for-glaucoma ### 2026-06-13: Life Biosciences conducts first human gene‑therapy trial to rejuvenate eye cells in the US Life Biosciences ran the first US gene‑therapy trial to rejuvenate eye cells in a glaucoma patient, using three genes activated by doxycycline and aiming to regenerate optic nerve neurons. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/life-biosciences-launches-first-us-genetherapy-trial-to-rejuvenate-eyenerve-cells ### 2026-06-12: Life Biosciences launches first human trial of reverse‑aging eye gene therapy Life Biosciences started the first human trial of ER‑100, a gene therapy injecting Yamanaka factors into the eye to reverse cellular aging and treat vision loss. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/life-biosciences-launches-first-human-trial-of-reverseaging-eye-gene-therapy ### 2026-06-11: Life Biosciences administers first human epigenetic rejuvenation injection for glaucoma Life Biosciences gave the first human dose of its ER‑100 epigenetic therapy, injecting a virus‑based gene cocktail into a glaucoma patient to rejuvenate retinal cells, marking a first‑in‑human test of cellular‑ 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/life-biosciences-administers-first-human-epigenetic-rejuvenation-injection-for-glaucoma ### 2026-06-10: Life Biosciences Starts First Human Gene Therapy Trial to Reverse Cell Aging Life Biosciences launched the first human trial of its ER‑100 gene therapy, using OSK factors to reverse cellular aging in glaucoma patients, after FDA approval. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/life-biosciences-starts-first-human-gene-therapy-trial-to-reverse-cell-aging --- Cite as: Life Biosciences ER-100 eye gene therapy trial. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/life-biosciences-antiaging-eye-gene-therapy-trial