ABOUT

Intro to project

Vision loss and blindness are frequently attributed to age-related macular degeneration and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. These diseases share neovascularization as a common etiology involving the pathological growth of retinal capillaries leading to blindness if left untreated. Existing treatments necessitate specialized injections that come with notable adverse effects.

Considering this, the NeoVasculoStop project, funded by the EU, aims to revolutionize treatment methods. Our project aims to develop an orally bioavailable medication specifically targeted to the eye, aiming to mitigate adverse effects, preserve vision, and alleviate the financial burden linked to retinopathies.

objectives
• We plan to improve treatments that target the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, a crucial regulator of angiogenesis and a widely recognized target for treating retinopathy.
• The modified VEGFR inhibitors will be synthesized based on in silico analysis.
• The most promising candidate molecules will be tested on cultured human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMEC) to assess their potential to inhibit neovascularization.
• At least one additional molecule will be developed, derived from a different VEGFR inhibitor, through a specific chemical modification.
• The enrichment of the compounds in the retina will be tested under exposure to natural light and artificial irradiation.
• The compounds’ efficiency will be tested.
• The absence of toxicity and tolerability of the modified compounds will be verified.
• The documents needed for the human Phase I clinical trial will be created using the experiments conducted above.
Project approach

Our approach is poised to trigger a paradigm shift in the design of future drug delivery strategies targeted at the retina.

Current treatment methods involve specialized injections directly into the eye, necessitating outpatient visits to specialized treatment centers and often leading to significant adverse effects. Oral medications with bioavailability could transform retinopathy treatment by minimizing side effects, preserving vision, reducing financial burdens, and enhancing healthcare accessibility. Inspired by this idea, we have developed an approach that can be exploited to target essentially any therapeutic molecule to the eye. Our innovative drug targeting strategy not only enhances the concentration of modified molecules in retinal tissue but also lowers the necessary oral dosage in comparison to current anti-angiogenic cancer therapies, thus heightening treatment safety.