Out-licensing

Angiographic Method using Green Porphyrins in Primate Eyes: Treatment of Degenerative Retinal Diseases

Introduction/Background

Choroidal neovascularization leads to haemorrhage and fibrosis, with resultant visual loss in a number of eye diseases, including macular degeneration, ocular histoplasmosis syndrome, myopia, and inflammatory diseases. Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of new blindness in the elderly, and choroidal neovascularization is responsible for 80% of the severe visual loss in patients with this diseases. Although the natural history of the disease is eventual quiescence and regression of the neovascularization process, this usually occurs at the cost of sub-retinal fibrosis and vision loss.

Current treatment relies on occlusion of the blood vessels using laser photocoagulation. However, such treatment requires thermal destruction of the neovascular tissue, and is accompanied by full-thickness retinal damage, as well as damage to medium and large choroidal vessels. Further, the subject is left with an atrophic scar and visual scotoma. Moreover, recurrences are common, and visual prognosis is poor.

Aims/Hypothesis

There is a need for the development of a method to treat degenerative retinal diseases including age related macular degeneration (AMD).

Results

The invention is directed to diagnosis and treatment of certain conditions of the eye using photodynamic methods and employing green porphyrins as the photoactive compounds. The green porphyrins of the invention offer advantages of selectivity and effectiveness when employed in protocols directed to the destruction of unwanted neovasculature and pigmented tumours. They are also particularly effective as visualizing agents in angiography of ocular blood vessels. The visualization of the compounds is enhanced by their ability to fluoresce. This method was first developed for use in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) using photodynamic therapy and green porphyrin dyes.

Conclusion

An angiographic method to observe the condition of blood vessels, including neovasculature in the eyes of living primates using green porphyrins and light at a wavelength of 550-700 nm to effect fluorescence is disclosed.

Relevance/Opportunity

Please enquire quoting reference no. 94/014C regarding licensing or codevelopment partnerships.

Registered

US Patent 5,707,986 has been issued.