A research consortium has developed light-activatable drugs that let blind mice perceive light again – without gene therapy, implants or special lighting. Two of the most promising compounds even worked as simple eye drops.
Drugs instead of gene therapy
The consortium, led by the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), uses “photopharmacology” – a technique that controls a molecule’s activity with light. The new compounds (called “prosthe6”) take over the function of the photoreceptors that degenerate in diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa.
Results in mice
Completely blind mice regained their natural preference for dark environments within hours of treatment – via eye drops or an injection into the eye – a sign of restored vision. The animals showed no signs of pain or damage to the eye.
Hopeful, but still early
The molecules are seen as possible drug candidates for people with degenerative retinal diseases. That is still a long way off, however – so far this is early research in an animal model.
Sources: ScienceDaily, EurekAlert.
