Emerging drugs for diabetic retinopathy

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus with its ophthalmic complications is the major cause for legal blindness in industrialized countries. Diabetic macular edema and its complex pathophysiology as part of diabetic retinopathy are the leading cause of vision loss among diabetic patients. In recent years, treatment options have developed involving the intravitreal applications of several compounds.

Areas covered: Current treatment options for diabetic macular edema including laser therapy and scientific basis of new drugs are discussed. Possible benefits and drawbacks of these new approaches are addressed.

Expert opinion: In recent years, new drugs against retinal diseases have been developed consisting mainly of steroid or anti-vascular endothelial growth factor compounds. Targeting macular edema, the second shows a possible therapeutic role in the proliferative form of diabetic retinopathy, requiring further investigation. New biodegradable delivery systems show an advantage in sustaining effective compound concentrations for longer times and have positive impact on safety profile and cost-effectiveness of the drug, a factor of grave importance when considering the future of any new drug in the market. All these new therapeutic approaches alone or in combination with the existing treatments have to demonstrate their efficacy and safety in diabetic retinopathy in current and future trials.

Keywords:

• anti-VEGF
• biodegradable
• combination therapies
• corticosteroids
• diabetic macular edema
• diabetic retinopathy
• drug delivery system
• intravitreal
• photocoagulation