Will intravenous treatment replace eye injections for blindness?

Question

Accepted Answer

Intravenous PRL3-zumab Shows Potential to Reduce Blood Vessel Leakage in Eye Conditions

A novel drug, PRL3-zumab, initially developed for cancer treatment, is showing promising results in addressing blindness caused by wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy. Developed by Singapore's A*Star Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), the drug has demonstrated a significant reduction in leakage from damaged blood vessels in pre-clinical studies. A safety trial for the drug, approved by Singapore's Health Sciences Authority on June 16, is slated to commence by late 2025, with further human trials planned to assess its efficacy.
Pre-clinical Studies Indicate Reduced Blood Vessel Leakage

Pre-clinical research, published in Nature Communications, has indicated that PRL3-zumab effectively reduces leakage from damaged blood vessels, a key factor in conditions like wet AMD and diabetic retinopathy. These conditions are significant global causes of vision loss. The drug's mechanism involves targeting these compromised blood vessels to mitigate further damage and vision impairment.
Intravenous Administration Shows Higher Efficacy in Leakage Reduction

In studies, the intravenous administration of PRL3-zumab demonstrated an 86% greater reduction in blood vessel leakage compared to traditional injection methods. This finding suggests a potential advantage of the systemic delivery of the drug over localized eye injections, which are currently the standard treatment for wet AMD and diabetic retinopathy. These existing treatments involve periodic injections into the eye to control abnormal blood vessel growth and leakage.
Safety Trial Approvals and Future Human Trials Underway

Following regulatory review, Singapore's Health Sciences Authority granted approval for a safety trial of PRL3-zumab on June 16. This initial trial is designed to assess the drug's safety profile in humans. The safety trial is scheduled to begin by late 2025, and it is anticipated that additional human trials will follow to thoroughly evaluate the drug's effectiveness and long-term outcomes for patients suffering from these vision-impairing conditions.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

Will intravenous treatment replace eye injections for blindness?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends