title: Current drug patenting for retinal diseases: beyond VEGF inhibitors.
abstract: An analysis of patent applications that address strategies for the pharmacological treatment of retinal diseases that are not directly related to VEGF inhibition, published under the PCT during the 18-month period from January 2008 to June 2009, is presented. The largest number of therapeutic patent applications focused on attempts to correct visual cycle dysfunctions, complement overactivation or beta-amyloid deposition in drusen to control age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Biomarker-based and genetic diagnostic modalities that assess AMD risk were also frequently claimed in the patent applications, and have become a significant factor in patenting for ocular disorders. The fields of both visual cycle therapy and AMD biomarkers were dominated by non-corporate patent assignees. Diabetic retinopathy has not received as much attention from inventors compared with AMD; retinopathy of prematurity remains a field in which little specific patenting occurs.
authors.affiliation: HM Pharma Consultancy, Enenkelstrasse 28/32, A-1160 Wien, Austria. h.mucke@hmpharmacon.com
authors.forename: Hermann A M
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Mucke
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Mucke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010330:Patents as Topic; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers