There are current approved therapies for people living with wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME). For example, doctors may prescribe VABYSMO, Lucentis, Beovu, Avastin, or Eylea. Yet despite these available options, many people with these conditions have suboptimal vision gain and still experience vision loss over time. Healio reports that EyeBio is working to fill this unmet need through the development of Restoret (EYE103). In fact, the first patients with wet AMD and DME were diagnosed with Restoret in the Phase 1b/2 AMARONE clinical study.
EyeBio explains that Restoret is a tetravalent, tri-specific antibody and Wnt signaling pathway agonist. Delivered intravitreally, Restoret is designed to stop retinal fluid leakage and maintain the strength and function of the blood retinal barrier. Within the study, an estimated 92 individuals with either DME or wet AMD will be treated with Restoret for a 12-week period. Researchers hope to evaluate the therapy’s efficacy, ability to improve or preserve visual acuity, and safety.
More data may be available later this year.
About Wet AMD
There are two forms of macular degeneration: wet and dry. Macular degeneration always begins dry but progresses to wet in around 20% of cases. Wet AMD is characterized by fluid leakage that diminishes vision. In some individuals, abnormal blood vessels leak blood and fluid into the macula. Alternately, fluid may leak from the choroid.
Risk Factors
There are factors that may increase the chance of developing wet AMD. For example, you are more likely to have wet AMD if people in your family have or had this condition. Smoking cigarettes, being older in age (55+), being Caucasian, obesity, and cardiovascular disease are also associated with a heightened risk.
Wet AMD Symptoms
In many cases, symptoms of wet AMD may appear suddenly and progress rapidly. People with this condition may find it more difficult to recognize faces or read without bright lights. Printed words may appear blurry; people may also experience visual distortions, such as straight lines appearing curvy, elsewhere. Wet AMD may also make it more difficult to adjust to low light, cause colors to appear less intense, or cause blurred vision or reduced central vision.
Additional Treatments
Outside of the treatments listed in this article, wet AMD may also be treated using low vision rehabilitation, photocoagulation, or photodynamic therapy.
