What is AMD
Current treatment
The state of the art of wet AMD treatment makes use of drugs that bind to the VEGF or comparable molecules to inhibit vessel growth. Currently on the market are Avastin®, Eylea®, Lucentis®, Beovu®, Vabysmo®, and SusvimoTM. Injection into the liquid-filled eye globe of the drugs stops the vessel growth by disrupting the angiogenic cascade. Due to the short half-life of the molecules and the sustained intraocular VEGF protein expression, the therapy needs to be repeated monthly in average.
Illustration of Lucentis® mode of action
To avoid severe side effects, high costs on health care and the overall burden of therapy on the patients, an alternative therapeutic approach has been developed. The increase of intraocular PEDF levels will regenerate the homeostasis of angiogenic and anti-angiogenic molecules, counteract the increased VEGF expression and inhibit neovascularisation.
