(ENGLAND)
A revolutionary new eye drop could soon replace invasive injection treatments in combatting common ocular diseases.
Scientists at Birmingham University have developed the eye drop, which could be used to treat the eye disorder known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which affects more than half a million people in the UK. For AMD, the eye drop achieves the same results as the injected drug, according to the new research.
The team, led by Biochemist Dr Felicity de Cogan, used a cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) to channel the drop quickly to the damaged area.
“The CPP-drug has the potential to have a significant impact on the treatment of AMD by revolutionising drug-delivery options,” Dr de Cogan said. “Efficacious self-administered drug application by eye drop would lead to a significant reduction in adverse outcomes and health care costs compared with current treatments.”
She added: “The CPP-plus drug complex also has potential application to other chronic ocular diseases that require drug delivery to the posterior chamber of the eye.
“We believe this is going to be very important in terms of empowering of patients and reducing the cost of treatment to the NHS.”
