148 results about "Choroidal neovascularization" patented technology

Diseases associated with the tissues in the posterior segment of the eye can be effectively treated by administering therapeutic agents transsclerally to those tissues. Compositions, devices, and methods for delivering therapeutic agents so that they cross the sclera and reach these tissues include injecting solutions or suspensions adjacent to or within the sclera and implanting solid structures containing the therapeutic agent adjacent to or within the sclera. These methods may be used for administering rapamycin or related compounds to treat choroidal neovascularization associated with age-related macular degeneration.

The present invention provides composition, methods, and articles of manufacture for treating an eye disorder, e.g., a disorder characterized by macular degeneration, choroidal neovascularization, or retinal neovascularization. One method of the invention comprises the step of: administering first and second therapeutic agents to the subject's eye in a single procedure, wherein the first therapeutic agent provides rapid improvement in the condition of the subject's eye and the second therapeutic agent is administered as a sustained release formulation of the second therapeutic agent. For example, the first and second therapeutic agents are administered by intravitreal injection. The first therapeutic agent may be dissolved in a liquid medium located in the syringe and the sustained formulation of the second therapeutic agent may comprise an ocular implant or plurality of particles located in the needle. The therapeutic agents may be selected from the group consisting of angiogenesis inhibitors and complement inhibitors.

Surgical apparatus and surgical methods are proposed for the prevention of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and choroidal neovascularization (CNV), and other eye diseases such as glaucoma by removal of the sclera tissue to reduce its rigidity and increase the flood flow and decrease pressure in the choriocapillaris. The disclosed preferred embodiments of the system consists of a tissue ablation means and a control means of ablation patterns and a fiber delivery unit. The basic laser beam includes UV lasers and infrared lasers having wavelength ranges of (0.15-0.36) microns and (0.5-3.2) microns and diode lasers of about 0.98, 1.5 and 1.9 microns. AMD and CNV are prevented, delayed or reversed by using an ablative laser to ablate the sclera tissue in a predetermined patterns outside the limbus to increase the elasticity of the sclera tissue surrounding the eye globe The surgery apparatus also includes non-laser device of radio frequency wave, electrode device, bipolar device and plasma assisted device

The present invention features the use of compstatin and complement inhibiting analogs thereof for treating and / or preventing age related macular degeneration and other conditions involving macular degeneration, choroidal neovascularization, and / or retinal neovascularization. The invention also provides compositions comprising compstatin or a complement inhibiting analog thereof and a second therapeutic agent. The invention also provides compositions comprising compstatin or a complement inhibiting analog thereof and a gel-forming material, e.g., soluble collagen, and methods of administering the compositions.

Activated C3 (C3a) and its receptor (C3aR) and activated C5 (C5a) and its receptor (C5aR) have been shown to induce vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in vitro and in vivo. Compositions and methods for inhibiting C3a, C3aR, C5a and C5aR for the treatment and / or prevention of neovascular disease are provided. Also provided are Novel therapeutic targets and diagnostic markers for choroidal neovascularization.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for inhibiting unwanted angiogenesis, particularly those of ocular tissues. The treatment, inhibition, and / or prevention of choroidal neovasculature (CNV) is provided, along with an animal model for CNV and imaging techniques that permit the screening of potential agents as anti-angiogenesis and anti-CNV agents.

The present inventors focused on the fact that inflammation at the subretinal macular area enhances choroidal neovascularization, and developed pharmaceutical agents that suppress initiation or advancement of neovascularization by angiogenic factors such as VEGF. More specifically, the present inventors revealed that administering anti-IL-6 receptor monoclonal antibodies to mice treated with laser photocoagulation inhibits the development of choroidal neovascularization.

Provided are methods and compositions for the photodynamic therapy (PDT) of ocular conditions characterized by the presence of unwanted choroidal neovasculature, for example, neovascular age-related macular degeneration. The selectivity and sensitivity of the PDT method can be enhanced by combining the PDT with an anti-angiogenesis factor, for example, angiostatin or endostatin, or with an apoptosis-modulating factor. Furthermore, the selectivity and sensitivity of the PDT may be further enhanced by coupling a targeting moiety to the photosensitizer so as to target the photosensitizer to choroidal neovasculature.

Disclosed are methods for the use of therapeutic polypeptide-encoding polynucleotides in the creation of transformed host cells and transgenic animals is disclosed. In particular, the use of recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vector compositions comprising polynucleotide sequences that express one or more mammalian PEDF or anti-angiogenesis polypeptides is described. In particular, the invention provides gene therapy methods for the prevention, long-term treatment and / or amelioration of symptoms of a variety of conditions and disorders in a mammalian eye, including, for example blindness, loss of vision, retinal degeneration, macular degeneration, and related disorders resulting from retinal or choroidal neovascularization in affected individuals.

Activated C3 (C3a) and its receptor (C3aR) and activated C5 (C5a) and its receptor (C5aR) have been shown to induce vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in vitro and in vivo. Compositions and methods for inhibiting C3a, C3aR, C5a and C5aR for the treatment and / or prevention of neovascular disease are provided. Also provided are Novel therapeutic targets and diagnostic markers for choroidal neovascularization.

The invention concerns the prevention and treatment of complement-associated eye conditions, such as choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), by administration of Factor D antagonists.

The present invention relates to the treatment of ischemic diseases, and more particularly, to treatment of diabetic retinopathy and ischemia of the retinal and choroidal tissues. The treatment, which will work in vitrectomized eyes as well as non-vitrectomized eyes, is based on selective and fractional electrolysis of the vitreous humor to produce oxygen and optionally active chlorine while simultaneously controlling pH. Oxygen or active chlorine can suppress or reverse the onset of diabetic retinopathy, other retinovascular diseases, and choroidal neovascularization.

The present invention provides compositions and methods for treating and / or preventing age related macular degeneration and other conditions involving macular degeneration or choroidal neovascularization. Certain of the compositions comprise a poxvirus complement control protein or a complement binding fragment or variant thereof. Other compositions comprise a poxvirus complement control protein linked to a moiety that binds to a component present on or at the surface of cell or noncellular molecular entity, e.g., a component present in the eye of a subject at risk of or suffering from age related macular degeneration or a related condition or choroidal neovascularization. Certain of the methods comprise administering a poxvirus complement control protein or complement binding fragment or variant thereof to a subject.

RNA interference is provided for inhibition of connective tissue growth factor mRNA expression in ocular disorders involving CTGF expression. Ocular disorders involving aberrant CTGF expression include glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, choroidal neovascularization, proliferative vitreoretinopathy and wound healing. Such disorders are treated by administering interfering RNAs of the present invention.

The present inventors focused on the fact that inflammation at the subretinal macular area enhances choroidal neovascularization, and developed pharmaceutical agents that suppress initiation or advancement of neovascularization by angiogenic factors such as VEGF. More specifically, the present inventors revealed that administering anti-IL-6 receptor monoclonal antibodies to mice treated with laser photocoagulation inhibits the development of choroidal neovascularization.

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for treating ocular diseases, inter alia, diabetic macular edema, age-related macular degeneration (wet form), choroidal neovascularization, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion (central or branch), ocular trauma, surgery induced edema, surgery induced neovascularization, cystoid macular edema, ocular ischemia, uveitis, and the like. These diseases or conditions are characterized by changes in the ocular vasculature whether progressive or non-progressive, whether a result of an acute disease or condition, or a chronic disease or condition.

The invention concerns the prevention and treatment of complement-associated eye conditions, such as choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), by administration of Factor D antagonists.

The present invention provides compositions and methods for treating and / or preventing age related macular degeneration and other conditions involving macular degeneration or choroidal neovascularization, ocular inflammation, or any combination of these. Certain of the compositions comprise a poxvirus complement control protein or a complement binding fragment or variant thereof. Other compositions comprise a poxvirus complement control protein linked to a moiety that binds to a component present on or at the surface of cell or noncellular molecular entity, e.g., a component present in the eye of a subject at risk of or suffering from age related macular degeneration or a related condition or choroidal neovascularization, ocular inflammation, or any combination of these. Certain of the methods comprise administering a poxvirus complement control protein or complement binding fragment or variant thereof to a subject.

The invention discloses a spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) retina image choroidal neovascularization (CNV) segmentation method based on concavity and convexity, and belongs to the technical field of image processing. The method comprises the following steps: first, estimating the retina and choroid area of an input SD-OCT image, and positioning the internal limiting membrane (ILM) and the choroid-sclera junction (CSJ); then, estimating the retina pigment epithelium (RPE) layer according to the gradual change feature of the reflectivity of the retina image, and estimating the Bruch's membrane (BM) layer based on the concavity and convexity of the RPE layer; and finally, estimating a preliminary CNV region according to the thickness difference between the RPE layer and the BM layer, and correcting the upper border of CNV to get a final CNV segmentation result. The experimental results show that the algorithm proposed in the invention can be used to segment CNV robustly and precisely, and is of great significance to facilitating subsequent CNV quantitative analysis and improving the work efficiency of doctors.

The invention discloses a partitioning algorithm for choroidal neovascularization in an OCT image. The algorithm includes steps of S01, designing a structure prior learning method for a training image and constructing a structure prior matrix used for distinguishing a choroidal neovascularization zone and a background zone; S02, converting the OCT original image to a saliency enhancing image used for enhancing the saliency of the choroidal neovascularization zone based on the structure prior matrix; S03, adopting multi-scale analysis on the saliency enhancing image and dividing the saliency enhancing image into m scales; S04, acquiring m trained convolutionneural network model based on each scale training; S05, processing a testing image by utilizing the step S01, S02, S03 and performing testing by utilizing the trained convolutionneural network model in the step S04, outputting m portioning results and fusing the m partitioning results into the final partitioning result. By adopting the algorithm provided by the invention, the precision of partitioning of the choroidal neovascularization in the OCT image can be improved distinctively.

The present invention relates to oxygenated ophthalmic topical compositions and methods of administering oxygenated ophthalmic topical compositions. The present invention also encompasses methods for making and administering the oxygenated ophthalmic topical compositions for use in treating or ameliorating pathologic conditions, complications, diseases and symptoms related to hypoxia of the anterior eye structure, including corneal neovascularization (CNV), edema, abrasions, infections, infiltrates, dry eye syndrome, contact lens intolerance; and redness, blurred vision, discomfort, foreign body sensation, photophobia, and irritation.

Intravitreal administration of a JNK-inhibitory peptide less than 150 amino acids in length, containing at least one D-amino acid, and having (a) a JNK-inhibitory sequence of at least any of SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2, and (b) a transport sequence of at least any of SEQ ID NO: 3 and SEQ ID NO: 4 suppressed spermidine-induced retinal pigment epithelial damage, tunicamycin-induced photoreceptor cell damage, and laser-induced choroidal neovascularization. Thus, the JNK-inhibitory peptide of the present invention is useful for prophylaxis or therapy of a retinal disease. By the use of this JNK-inhibitory peptide, a drug and a method are provided which are capable of preventing or treating a retinal disease even by topical administration to the eye, and use of the JKN-inhibitory peptide for manufacturing the drug is also provided.

The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating and / or preventing age related macular degeneration and other conditions involving macular degeneration, ocular neovascularization, or ocular inflammation. The methods comprise administering a composition comprising a compound that is an antagonist of a G protein coupled receptor, e.g., the C5a receptor, to a subject in need of treatment or prevention of age-related macular degeneration or another condition involving macular degeneration or ocular neovascularization. The invention provides compositions comprising a compound that is an antagonist of a G protein coupled receptor linked either directly or indirectly to a moiety that binds to a component present on or at the surface of cell or noncellular molecular entity, e.g., a component present in the eye of a subject at risk of or suffering from age related macular degeneration or a related condition or choroidal neovascularization.

Diseases and conditions associated with tissues of the body, including tissues in the eye, can be effectively treated by administering therapeutic agents to those tissues. Described herein are self-emulsifying formulations and methods for delivering therapeutic agents to such tissues. A self-emulsifying formulation may be delivered to an aqueous medium of a subject, including but not limited to the vitreous. A method may, for instance, be used to administer rapamycin or related compounds to treat or prevent choroidal neovascularization associated with age-related macular degeneration, or to treat dry AMD. A self-emulsifying formulation may also be administered systernically, such as orally, to treat transplant rejection in a subject. A self-emulsifying formulation may comprise rapamycin, related compounds, or other therapeutic agents.

Proliferation of retinal pigment epithelium following surgery or trauma or resulting in ocular diseases associated with choroidal neovascularization, such as age related macular degeneration and histoplasmosis syndrome, is prevented by contacting retinal pigment epithelium cells with a therapeutic amount of a retinoic acid receptor (RAR agonist, preferably one with specific activity for retinoic acid receptors. Preferably the RAR agonist is also a potent antagonist of AP1-dependent gene expression. Alternatively, the proliferation of retinal pigment epithelium is ameliorated with a therapeutic amount of an AP-1 antagonist, alone or in combination with an RAR agonist. The drug can be administered by bolus injection into the vitreous cavity using a dosage from about 50 to 150 .mu.g. Or by slow release from liposomes or an oil tamponade injected into the vitreous cavity. Formulations for preventing proliferation of retinal pigment epithelium are also provided.

Antagonists of S1P3 (Edg-3) receptors are provided for attenuation of Smad signaling in a method of down-regulation of receptor signaling and downstream decreased production of connective tissue growth factor in ocular disorders involving CTGF accumulation. Ocular disorders involving inappropriate CTGF accumulation include ocular hypertension, glaucoma, glaucomatous retinopathy, optic neuropathy, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, choroidal neovascularization, proliferative vitreoretinopathy and ocular wound healing, for example. Such disorders are treated by administering antagonists of the present invention.

Disclosed are methods for treating diseases or conditions of the eye, especially retinopathies, ocular edema and ocular neovascularization. Non-limiting examples of these diseases or conditions include diabetic macular edema, age-related macular degeneration (wet or dry form), choroidal neovascularization, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion (central or branch), ocular trauma, surgery induced edema, surgery induced neovascularization, cystoid macular edema, ocular ischemia, uveitis, and the like. These diseases or conditions are characterized by changes in the ocular vasculature whether progressive or non-progressive, whether a result of an acute disease or condition, or a chronic disease or condition.

The invention includes processes mainly for the treatment of angiogenic diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy, arthritis, cancer, psoriasis, Kaposi's sarcoma, hemangiomas, myocardial angiogenesis, atherosclerosis, and ocular angiogenic diseases such as choroidal neovascularization, retinopathy of prematurity (retrolental fibroplasias), macular degeneration, corneal graft rejection, rubeosis, neuroscular glacoma and Oster Webber syndrome. The processes involve treating a patient with a pharmaceutical composition containing an active ingredient that inhibits the activity of sphingosine kinase.

Methods of treatment of diseases that include or are characterized by inappropriate or pathological neovascularization are disclosed. These diseases include diseases of the eye, such as diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, and choroidal neovascularization which can occur in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Disclosed methods include administering agents that cause directly or indirectly upregulation of the ABCA1 transporter protein in macrophages. These agents include, without limitation, LXR agonists. In some embodiments, inhibitors of CETP expression or activity can also be effective. Administration routes can include, without limitation, intraocular, periocular, or systemic administration.