Current and future therapies for age-related macular degeneration.
BACKGROUND
Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness, with an increasing incidence as the elderly population expands.


OBJECTIVE
In this article we review current therapeutic strategies and discuss possible future targets.


METHODS
A review of the literature and ongoing clinical trials was undertaken.


RESULTS
Currently, established therapies for neovascular AMD-like photodynamic therapy and anti-VEGF therapies allow stabilization or even improvement of vision. Potential future drugs under development for advanced AMD or its prevention target the signal transduction cascade of different angiogenic molecules. These drugs intervene at different levels of the involved processes including the RNA production and specific protein expression as well as inflammatory, apoptotic, or metabolic processes.


CONCLUSIONS
Combining different strategies targeting angiogenesis, inflammation and apoptosis, or interfering early in--or even prior to--the formation of choroidal neovascularization, may improve the future management of age-related macular degeneration.
Beutel
Julia
J
University of Lübeck, University Eye Hospital, Lübeck, Germany.
Rudolf
Martin
M
Grisanti
Salvatore
S
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A