Eye drops could replace anti-VEGC injections

The incorporation of a cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) into the drops allows th to deliver the drug to the target area in minutes.{{quote-A:R-W:450-I:2-Q:“This is going to be very important in terms of powering of patients and reducing the cost of treatment.”-WHO:Felicity De Cogan, Biochist from the Institute of Inflammation and Ageing from the University of Birmingham}}Study lead Dr Felicity de Cogan, a biochist from the Institute of Inflammation and Ageing from the University of Birmingham, said the new CPP-drug had achieved the same outcomes as the injected drug and could have a significant impact on the treatment of wet AMD.“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 said while pointing out that lack of compliance to treatment is partly responsible for the increased number of wet AMD cases worldwide.“We believe this is going to be very important in terms of powering of patients and reducing the cost of treatment,” de Cogan added.The current drug delivery process causes discomfort and also increases the risk of blindness through repeated injections. Additionally, these injections cause tearing of the eye tissue, in the process heightening the risk of infection.Aside from treating wet AMD, the drug can potentially be applied to other chronic ocular diseases that require delivery to the posterior chamber of the eye.