Researchers develop cell injection technique that could help reverse vision loss

University of Toronto Engineering researchers have developed a new method of injecting healthy cells into damaged eyes. The technique could point the way toward new treatments with the potential to reverse forms of vision loss that are currently incurable.

Neovascular AMD: Bevacizumab Injection Increases Angiogenic Biomarkers

Dr. Thiago Cabral

Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is induced by the development of new abnormal ‘leaky’ blood vessels in the choroid and retina, when the balance of pro- and anti-angiogenic factors is upset. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is considered a critical modulator of angiogenesis and is related to induction of endothelial cell migration and proliferation after hypoxia. The development of anti-VEGF agents, such as bevacizumab (Avastin®), ranibizumab (Lucentis®) and aflibercept (Eylea®), revolutionized the treatment of nAMD.

A novel drug for treatment of diabetic retinopathy

(c) Centenary Institute, Sydney, Australia

Scientists at the Centenary Institute have developed a novel drug which could potentially be used to effectively treat patients with diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy often occurs in diabetic patients, even when their blood sugar levels are controlled. In diabetic retinopathy, the tiny blood vessels in the retina are damaged and can leak fluid or haemorrhage, often leading to vision loss.

RG7716 improves visual acuity in subjects with Diabetic Macular Edema in a Phase 2 study

(c)Pharmacodia.com

Genentech announced results from the Phase II BOULEVARD study, which is evaluating subjects with vision loss from diabetic macular edema (DME), where treatment with intravitreal RG7716 was observed to be clinically meaningful and statistically significant in improvement of visual acuity gains compared with ranibizumab alone.

White Paper by Angiogenesis Foundation suggests some key action points to help control AMD

The AngiogenesisFoundation has announced release of the white paper, titled "Improving Long-Term Patient Outcomes for Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration". The Foundation, leading retina specialists, AMD patient advocacy groups, AMD patient advocates, and caregivers contributed to the white paper. It identifies current barriers to and solutions for improving the long-term vision outcomes of people living with exudative age-related macular degeneration, more commonly known as wet AMD.

Amniotic membrane derived stem cell transplants show benefit in retinal diseases

(c) Cell Transplantation

A team of researchers at the CHA University in South Korea has successfully transplanted mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) derived from human amniotic membranes of the placenta (AMSCs) into laboratory mice modeled with oxygen-induced retinopathy, which is used to simulate many retinal diseases. The treatment aimed at suppressing abnormal angiogenesis (blood vessel growth) which is recognized as the cause of many eye diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. The researchers reported that the AMSCs successfully migrated to the retinas of the test animals and, because of the growth factors secreted by the cells, were able to suppress retinal neovascularization.

New research reveals significant burden for patients being treated for sight threatening retinal disease

New data presented at the 6th World Congress on Controversies in Ophthalmology shows that the intravitreal injection regimens associated with treating retinal disease can have a detrimental effect on a patient’s quality of life.

Is Avastin better than Lucentis for AMD?

A group of researchers from China have evaluated randomized controlled clinical trials from around the world to study the efficacy and safety of Avastin^tm (bevacizumab) versus Lucentis^tm (ranibizumab) in wet (neovascular) age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

AMD may be triggered by tiny mineral deposits in retina

Scientists from the University of Maryland School of Medicine have found that tiny lumps of calcium phosphate may be an important triggering factor for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This is the first time these mineral deposits have been implicated in the disease, which affects more than 10 million Americans.

New drugs in the pipeline target novel pathways for treatment of diabetic retinopathy

from NEI

There is exciting on-going research in the field of treatments for patients with diabetic macular edema (DME). There is a long list of drugs in the pipeline for treating this disease that affects a significant number of people around the world. Pipeline drugs target novel pathways to treat diabetic eye disease.

HIV/AIDS drugs that are FDA approved could treat age-related macular degeneration

from washington.edu

A study published in the journal Science by an international group of scientists, led by the laboratory of Dr. Jayakrishna Ambati, professor and vice chair of the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at the University of Kentucky, reports that HIV/AIDS drugs that have been used for the last 30 years could be repurposed to treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD), as well as other inflammatory disorders, because of a previously undiscovered intrinsic and inflammatory activity those drugs possess.

New treatment potential for babies with Retinopathy of Prematurity

A gene known to play a major role in constricting blood vessels also appears to be a major player in the aberrant blood vessel growth that can destroy the vision of premature babies such as in Retinopathy of Prematurity and possibly in Diabetic Retinopathy.