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Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1389-2010
ISSN (Online): 1873-4316

Anti-Angiogenesis Drugs in Diabetic Retinopathy

Author(s): V. Swetha E. Jeganathan

Volume 12, Issue 3, 2011

Page: [369 - 372] Pages: 4

DOI: 10.2174/138920111794480525

Price: $65

Abstract

The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a key role in the development of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and diabetic macular edema (DME), resulting in a significant visual loss among patients with diabetes mellitus. Systemic VEGF-A and the interplay between membrane-bound VEGF receptors and VEGF-R1 (soluble form) are key to angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. Furthermore, patients with diabetes have a higher risk of hypertension and proteinuria, two surrogate markers of systemic VEGF inhibition. Pegaptanib, ranibizumab, bevacizumab and roboxistaurin are the currently available anti-VEGF agents. Agents with activity occurring later down the angiogenic pathway and those drugs with potential to synergize with anti-VEGF-A technologies are being developed. In recent years, inhibition of ocular VEGF has emerged as a promising treatment modality for diabetes and is currently undergoing evaluation in clinical trials. A potential role for these anti-VEGF agents in the prevention of PDR and DME are also emerging.

Keywords: Diabetic retinopathy, vascular endothelial growth factor, anti-VEGF, pegaptanib, ranibizumab, bevacizumab, roboxistaurin, diabetic macular edema


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