Treatment of diabetic retinopathy with an oral angiogenic inhibitor

ABSTRACT

Stimulation of angiogenesis has long been recognized as playing a critical role in the pathophysiology of all forms of diabetic retinopathy. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is generally regarded as the principal angiogenic factor that leads to retinal damage in patients with diabetes. A new oral medication that specifically inhibits VEGF has been developed at Harvard Medical School's Joslin Diabetes Center. This medication is currently being evaluated in a randomised controlled multicentre trial in centres in North America and Europe involving human subjects with diabetic retinopathy. The clinical observations that led to the discovery of VEGF and the development of the oral VEGF inhibitor will be discussed. The mechanism of action of the oral inhibitor will be presented briefly. The current state of the clinical trials underway will be presented, and the implications for the clinical use of this new medication in the daily care of patients with diabetic retinopathy will be discussed.(AU)