Korean bioventure Curacle Co. Ltd. reported positive top-line findings from its U.S.-based phase IIa study of CU06-1004, an oral drug for diabetic macular edema, spurring plans for a bigger phase IIb study in the second half of 2024.
Diabetic retinopathy and diabetic kidney disease are frequent microvascular complications of diabetes, both related to exacerbated vascular permeability coming from microvascular barrier malfunctioning.
Diabetic retinopathy is the main diabetes complication affecting the eyes, and it leads to irreversible vision loss; oxidative stress and impairment of the retinal Muller cells are among the pathogenic mechanisms. Chinese researchers presented data on adiporon, an agonist of the adiponectin receptor protein 1 (ADPOR1) and ADIPOR2 that plays a crucial role in the metabolism of lipids and glucose, in preclinical mouse models of diabetes induced by streptozotocin.
Hangzhou Yirui Pharmaceutical Technology Co. Ltd. has described N-tetrazolyl aryl urea derivatives acting as bradykinin B1 receptor antagonists reported to be useful for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration, allergic conjunctivitis, pulmonary edema, neuralgia, infectious pneumonia, diabetic retinopathy, SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) and uveitis.
On the heels of the U.S. FDA clearance for Veopoz (pozelimab-bbfg) from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. to treat Chaple disease, the regulatory rollercoaster ride for the firm’s bid with higher-dose Eylea (aflibercept) ended with a green light for that compound as well. Eylea HD is indicated for wet age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema, and diabetic retinopathy.
Golgi Neurosciences srl and Breye Therapeutics ApS have established a collaboration to develop Golgi’s P2X7 receptor antagonist program for retinal disorders. The companies have now closed the transfer of the P2X7 receptor antagonist program, which seeks to reduce nerve damage and inflammation in retinal disease and advance development of innovative oral small-molecule therapeutics for retinal disorders.
A collaboration between Aegis Ventures LLC and Northwell Holdings invested $12 million to launch New York-based Optain Inc., an artificial intelligence company created to enable early identification and disease prevention through retinal imaging. Retinal imaging is well known for identifying eye diseases including diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degermation and glaucoma, but it can also provide insight into cardiovascular and neurological conditions.
Researchers from Augusta University recently presented data from a study that aimed to assess the role of acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase (ACAT1) in neurovascular damage during diabetic retinopathy (DR).
Nearly everyone with diabetes for >20 years will develop diabetic retinopathy or uveitis, which are collectively among the most common causes of premature blindness. Melanocortin is a short peptide that not only controls pigmentation, but that is most importantly expressed constitutively in the intraocular space where it serves essential functions suppressing inflammation in the retina, ultimately preventing blindness.
Praetego Inc. has been granted a US$300,000 phase I Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) award by the National Eye Institute (NEI) to advance the company's lead candidate, PTG-630, into preclinical proof of concept in diabetic retinopathy.
