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Current Treatment

The state of the art of exudative AMD treatment makes use of anti-VEGF molecules (e. g. Ranibizumab – Lucentis®) which bind the VEGF protein. The intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF molecules stops the neovascularisation by disrupting the angiogenic cascade (Fig. 1). 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.

Fig. 1: Illustration of Lucentis® mode of action
Fig. 1: Illustration of Lucentis® mode of action. Due to the VEGF/ anti-VEGF complex the activation of the endothelial cell VEGF receptor is suppressed and the neovascularisation cascade fails.

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 induction of increased intraocular PEDF levels will regenerate the homeostasis of angiogenic and anti-angiogenic molecules, counteract the increased VEGF expression and inhibit neovascularisation.