Subscribe to Newsletter
Subspecialties Basic & Translational Research, Retina, Retina

Where Are They Now?

In June 2017, we reported on a study that demonstrated topical delivery of anti-VEGF antibodies to the posterior segment, and how the findings showed the potential to release AMD patients from the burden of monthly injections (1). The hero? Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) that can act as chaperones to facilitate the uptake of anti-VEGF complexes. In their 2017 publication, the team – led by Felicity de Cogan of the University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK – showed that CPP-anti-VEGF complexes successfully reached the posterior segment in rat and porcine eyes, and that they could reduce lesion size in a mouse model of choroidal neovascularization (2).

But where are they now? The group have pushed their treatment one step further, and recently shown that topically applied CPP complexes (with either bevacizumab or ranibizumab) can reach the retina in both rabbit and porcine eyes, and have also quantified how much anti-VEGF was delivered (3). Also, Macregen, Inc, now owns the pending patents for the treatment, and a collaboration between the US-based company and the team is in place to develop novel therapies for AMD and other eye diseases. On the collaboration, de Cogan said: “We welcome the commercial investment and expertise from Macregen so we can deliver a structured research and development program that should bring concrete benefits to people with AMD and eye diseases” (4).

With proof of concept studies currently being expedited, and clinical trials set to start as early as Q2 in 2019, how soon might patients be able to “drop the needle?”

Receive content, products, events as well as relevant industry updates from The Ophthalmologist and its sponsors.

When you click “Subscribe” we will email you a link, which you must click to verify the email address above and activate your subscription. If you do not receive this email, please contact us at [email protected].
If you wish to unsubscribe, you can update your preferences at any point.

  1. Ruth Steer. “Dropping the needle”. The Ophthalmologist, 42, 10–11 (2017). Available at: bit.ly/dropneedle
  2. F de Cogan et al., “Topical delivery of anti-VEGF drugs to the ocular posterior segment using cell-penetrating peptides”, Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 58, 2578–2590 (2017). PMID: 28494491.
  3. F de Cogan et al., “Topical treatment for AMD: Non-invasive delivery and efficacy of ranbibizumab and bevacozumab in rabbit and porcine eyes”. Presentation at ARVO; April 28–May 3, 2018; Honolulu, HI, USA.
  4. University or Birmingham. “Researchers are one step closer to developing eye drops to treat common sight loss condition”. Available at: bit.ly/UofBham. Last accessed: July 20, 2018.
About the Author
Ruth Steer
Product Profiles

Access our product directory to see the latest products and services from our industry partners

Here
Register to The Ophthalmologist

Register to access our FREE online portfolio, request the magazine in print and manage your preferences.

You will benefit from:
  • Unlimited access to ALL articles
  • News, interviews & opinions from leading industry experts
  • Receive print (and PDF) copies of The Ophthalmologist magazine

Register

Disclaimer

The Ophthalmologist website is intended solely for the eyes of healthcare professionals. Please confirm below: