Scientists one step closer to developing eye drops for AMD

Researchers are one step closer to developing eye drops to treat patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). 

The University of Birmingham’s Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, has invented a method of delivering the injected anti-VEGF drug, currently received by patients with wet AMD, as an eye drop instead. 

Last year the Macular Society reported on the success of initial laboratory research, which showed these eye drops have a similar therapeutic effect. Now the Birmingham scientists have taken their research one step further by investigating the effect of the eye drops in the larger animal models, which are more similar in size and function to human eyes. 

The drop uses a cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) to deliver the drug to the relevant part of the eye.  

Dr de Cogan said: “For several years our team has focussed on the challenge of delivering drugs to the back of the eye. From the outset we realised that delivering drugs with eye drops would mean that patients can administer their treatment themselves, and this would be less costly for healthcare providers, save time for patients, and reduce the potential complications that can arise from injections. Now we have shown that the eye drops work in the larger mammalian eye, and we are accelerating our research to bring this benefit to patients as soon as possible." 

Macular Degeneration Foundation interviewed Dr Felicity de Cogan about her latest research. The video can be viewed on the Macular News website.

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