Scientists have developed a new Peptide-based eye drop treatment that could help people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss in individuals over 65. AMD affects the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp vision, leading to blurred or distorted sight. There are two types of AMD: dry and wet. Dry AMD is more common, accounting for about 90% of cases, and while it typically causes milder vision problems, approximately 30% of patients may progress to the more severe wet form within a decade.
Currently, the only treatments approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for dry AMD are injectable drugs. These injections can be uncomfortable and carry risks of complications, and their effectiveness in restoring vision is limited.
A research team led by Dr. Moon-Hyeong Seo from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) has developed a new treatment for dry AMD that can be administered as eye drops. This method is more convenient and less invasive than injections. The team’s findings were published in the journal Advanced Science.
Developing eye drops that effectively reach the retina at the back of the eye has been a significant challenge. To overcome this, the researchers focused on proteins called Toll-like receptors (TLRs), which are involved in the inflammation associated with AMD. They created a large library of over 190,000 peptide drug candidates—small protein fragments similar to natural TLR proteins. Using advanced screening techniques, they identified peptides that can inhibit the interactions between TLR proteins, potentially reducing inflammation.
The team tested these peptide-based eye drops in mice with induced dry AMD. The treated mice showed protection of retinal cells and significantly less retinal degeneration, with results comparable to those in normal mice. This suggests that the eye drops could effectively replace existing injectable therapies for dry AMD.
This new treatment offers several benefits:
- Convenience: Patients can administer the eye drops themselves, eliminating the need for medical professionals to perform injections.
- Safety: The non-invasive nature of eye drops reduces the risk of complications associated with injections.
- Cost: Eye drops could lower treatment costs by reducing the need for medical procedures.
This innovation is expected to improve treatment accessibility for AMD and other related eye conditions, potentially transforming patient care.
