Delivery of celecoxib for treating diseases of the eye: influence of pigment and diabetes.
BACKGROUND
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) are two major causes of blindness. In these disorders, growth factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are upregulated, leading to either enhanced vascular permeability or proliferation of endothelium. While corticosteroid therapies available at present suffer from side effects including cataracts and elevated intraocular pressure, anti-VEGF antibody therapies require frequent intravitreal injections, a procedure that can potentially lead to retinal detachment or endophthalmitis. Thus, there is a need to develop safe, sustained release therapeutic approaches for treating AMD and DR.


METHODS
This review discusses the pharmacological basis for using celecoxib, an anti-inflammatory drug capable of selectively inhibiting cycloxygenase 2, in treating AMD and DR. In addition, this article discusses the safety, delivery advantage and efficacy of celecoxib by transscleral retinal delivery, a periocular delivery approach that is less invasive to the globe compared with intravitreal injections.


RESULTS
The reader will gain insights into the development of a pharmacological agent and a sustained release delivery system for treating DR and AMD. Further, the reader will gain insights into the influence of eye physiology including pigmentation and disease states such as DR on retinal drug delivery.


CONCLUSIONS
Transscleral sustained delivery of anti-inflammatory agents is a viable option for treating retinal disorders.
Amrite
Aniruddha
A
Quinitles, Inc., Clinical Pharmacology, Overland Park, KS 66211, USA.
Pugazhenthi
Vidya
V
Cheruvu
Narayan
N
Kompella
Uday
U
D000818:Animals; D000068579:Celecoxib; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D008543:Melanins; D011720:Pyrazoles; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000068579:Celecoxib