[Image from Michael McCullough on Flickr]
1. These eyedrops could prevent blindness that comes from diabetes
Eyedrops that replace eye injections could be an alternative treatment for diabetic retinopathy, according to a new study from the University of Nottingham.
Current injections are designed to target the protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is what helps blood vessels form and grow naturally. Targeting VEGF stops the faulty blood cells from growing, but also stops normal blood cells from growing so that the eyes can recover from high blood sugar levels, according to a press release.
The drug that is currently injected turns off VEGF completely. It is large and therefore can only be administered through injections. Drugs that target the protein SRPK1, which promotes the growth of good VEGF blood vessels, are small enough that they can be administered through eyedrops.
Professor David Bates at Nottingham’s School of Medicine has been testing the efficacy of the eyedrops for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and thinks it could work to prevent vision loss in diabetic patients.
“The current treatment for diabetic retinopathy is very unpleasant for the patient but also costly and time-consuming because the injection can only be performed at eye clinics by specialist doctors and nurses,” said Bates. “Eyedrops that patients could administer themselves would reduce both their discomfort and the financial burden which the current treatment places on the [the U.K.’s National Health Service].”
The AMD eyedrops are expected to be in clinical trials within the next 2 or 3 years and could have a year-long phase 3 clinical trial for diabetic patients upon completion of the first clinical trials.
