Geographic Atrophy

Potential role of lampalizumab for treatment of geographic atrophy

“…Current research is aimed at visual cycle inhibitors, such as fenretinide (SirionTherapeutics, Tampa, FL, USA), ACU-4429 (Acucela, Inc, Bothell, WA, USA), and ALK-001 (Alkeus Pharmaceuticals, Boston, MA, USA), which work by down-regulating the visual cycle to decrease the accumulation of the toxic waste products of retinal metabolism. Other research involves RN6G (PF-4382923, Pfizer, Inc, New York, NY, USA) and GSK933776 (GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA), which regulate the accumulation of amyloid β, which has been found in drusen 26. Other research is ongoing into neuroprotective drugs, such as the prostaglandin analog UF-021 (isopropyl unoprostone; Ocuseva; Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Japan), ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF/NT501; Neurotech, Lincoln RI, USA), a serotonin 1A agonist, tandospirone (AL-8309B; Alcon Research Ltd, Fort Worth, TX, USA), and brimonidine tartrate intravitreal implant (Allergan, Irvine, CA, USA).…”

Inflammasome priming increases retinal pigment epithelial cell susceptibility to lipofuscin phototoxicity by changing the cell death mechanism from apoptosis to pyroptosis

“…The mechanism of RPE cell death in AMD has not yet been fully elucidated. Several lines of clinical and experimental evidence indicate that oxidative and lipofuscin-mediated photooxidative damage plays an important pathophysiological role [2]. Recent studies suggest that the NLRP3 inflammasome also contributes to RPE cell death secondary to AMD [3,4].…”

Current therapeutic developments in atrophic age-related macular degeneration

“…GA is characterised by well-defined areas of RPE loss followed by the degeneration of the corresponding photoreceptors and thinning of the retina. 5 Neovascular AMD is characterised by choroidal neovascularisation (CNV). Severe central visual impairment or blindness can develop as a result of neovascular or dry AMD.…”