title: Emerging drugs for diabetic retinopathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diabetes mellitus with its ophthalmic complications is the major cause for legal blindness in industrialized countries. Diabetic macular edema and its complex pathophysiology as part of diabetic retinopathy are the leading cause of vision loss among diabetic patients. In recent years, treatment options have developed involving the intravitreal applications of several compounds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Current treatment options for diabetic macular edema including laser therapy and scientific basis of new drugs are discussed. Possible benefits and drawbacks of these new approaches are addressed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In recent years, new drugs against retinal diseases have been developed consisting mainly of steroid or anti-vascular endothelial growth factor compounds. Targeting macular edema, the second shows a possible therapeutic role in the proliferative form of diabetic retinopathy, requiring further investigation. New biodegradable delivery systems show an advantage in sustaining effective compound concentrations for longer times and have positive impact on safety profile and cost-effectiveness of the drug, a factor of grave importance when considering the future of any new drug in the market. All these new therapeutic approaches alone or in combination with the existing treatments have to demonstrate their efficacy and safety in diabetic retinopathy in current and future trials.
authors: Staedtisches Klinikum Karlsruhe, Augenklinik, Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors: Antonios
authors: A
authors: Pipis
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Scholl
authors: Albert J
authors: AJ
authors: Augustin
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015195:Drug Design; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005446:Fluocinolone Acetonide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D053685:Laser Therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D005446:Fluocinolone Acetonide; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide