Adrenergic Receptor Agonist Therapy for Diabetic Retinopathy
Project Leader: Jena Steinle
Unit: School of Medicine, Dept. of Physiology
Brief Description:
This technology involves eyedrop and subconjunctival application of adrenergic receptor agonists to prevent the lesions and loss of vision associated with diabetic retinopathy. Using these compounds in an eyedrop form or in a subconjunctival application for long-term therapy may allow the prevention of ocular pathology of retinopathy and possibly other ocular diseases. Current technology for diabetic retinopathy involves using either interavitreal injection of angiogenic factor inhibitors (which are still in the experimental phase) or laser photocoagulation, which burns the ends off of newly growing blood vessels. Both of these therapies are used when vision is already compromised and are simply to slow the loss of vision. Adrenergic receptor agonists in the eyedrop form may be administered effectively prior to any vision loss. Therefore, subsequent problems associated with retinopathy would not occur and the other therapies would not be needed. Data indicate that application of adrenergic receptor agonists in an eyedrop restores beta-adrenergic receptor signaling in the retina and that it reaches the retina and activates two stages of cellular signaling.
Patent Status:
Patent pending.
Potential Commercial Uses:
Adrenergic receptor agonists in eyedrops will likely prevent the damage done in the retina in diabetes. This treatment may also work to prevent the changes in the eye due to macular degeneration, as aging is also associated with a substantial loss of sympathetic nerve activity. The compounds are currently on the market for their role for therapy for asthma as an inhalant, so some clinical data are available. Research involving the invention has also been conducted on rats.
Contact:
Rob Patino, SIU School of Medicine Office of Technology Transfer, (217) 545-8167, fax: (217) 545-0786