Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy constitutes the leading cause of blindness among working-age Americans, currently affecting six million people in the US. While the clinical characteristics of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) are well documented, there are few preventative therapies for this disease. Progress has been made in the development of compounds for progressive forms of the disease, but these treatments do not address the underlying cause. Several drugs target diabetes related complications, but there are no current therapies directly aimed at prevention of the onset of PDR. Surgical laser procedures are effective in destroying proliferating vessels, but can lead to significant loss of vision.

Arteriocyte is working with the NIH and researchers at the Cole Eye of the Cleveland Clinic to conduct pre-clinical studies evaluating ACY001 in PDR. Arteriocyte is targeting ACY001 as a potential therapy to prevent deterioration of the retina and progression of the disease.