title: Emerging drugs for age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness that until recently had no recognised drug treatment. In wet AMD, choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) causes a profound loss of central vision. CNV is a complex process in which tissue ischaemia and/or inflammation is thought to trigger production of angiogenic signal molecules. The release of VEGF appears to be particularly important. Verteporfin photodynamic therapy was the first drug therapy to be licensed for the treatment of some types of wet AMD. Other treatments directly targeting VEGF or other aspects of angiogenesis, such as pegaptanib, ranibizumab and anecortave acetate, have either recently been licensed or are in the advanced stages of development. These and other promising treatment options such as combination strategies are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Eye Clinic, Department of Ophthalmology, Moltkestrasse 90, 76133 Karlsruhe, Germany. 106020.560@compuserve.com
authors.forename: Albert J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Augustin
authors.forename: Indre
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Offermann
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D015507:Drugs, Investigational