Retinal Technology

About

Technology UCD has developed novel, small molecule, anti-angiogenic compounds to offer patients and clinicians cost-effective, easily administered, safe and sustainable therapeutics to prevent blindness from retinal vascular diseases. The retinal therapeutics market is estimated at $3 billion (2012); it is a high growth market with significant unmet need.  The dramatic entry of Lucentis (anti-VEGF antibody intravitreal drug) into the market in 2007 and the success of anti-angiogenic drugs have highlighted the opportunity for products in the retinal disease market. The entry of topical or slow release preparations into the market would eliminate the current practice of repeated intravitreal injections and the associated safety risks and clinical burden. In addition, there is a cohort of patients unresponsive to current treatments, underscoring the need for new therapeutics. How It Works Dr Breandán Kennedy and his research team have discovered novel anti-angiogenic compounds using a zebra fish in-vivo screen. Figure 1 shows that a UCD lead compound (identified from screening a small molecule library) is effective in inhibiting neovascularisation in the eye, compared to control. This inhibition occurred without significant effects on gross / retinal morphology or visual function. The candidate compounds have a dual mechanism of action, anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory, distinct from VEGF-targeted approaches and potentially more effective alone or in combination therapy. They have potential to be administered as eye drops as their physiochemical properties facilitates corneal / conjunctival absorption.