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Macular Edema (ME) is a pathological condition that refers to abnormal fluid accumulation in the macula which is the central region of the retina responsible for detailed, central vision, as well as color perception. Protheragen is dedicated to advancing the understanding and therapeutic development of macular edema through a comprehensive suite of preclinical research services.
Macular edema is a pathological condition where fluid accumulates within the macula, the central part of the retina which is used for seeing fine detail. This accumulation of fluid leads to retinal thickening and distortion, which ultimately decreases visual acuity, and can lead to severe visual impairment if not treated. Macular edema is a common complication of several retinal diseases, including diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusions, uveitis, and age-related macular degeneration. This condition occurs mainly due to the weakening of the blood-retinal barrier (BRB). This barrier consists of an intricate network of cells and junctions which governs the movement of molecules between the blood and retinal tissue. When there is damage to the BRB, proteins and other solutes leak into the retina, raising osmotic pressure and resulting in the accumulation of fluid.
Fig.1 Optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans of the human macula in cross-section. (Haydinger C. D., et al., 2023)The pathogenesis of macular edema involves a multi-faceted interaction of inflammatory mediators, factors of vascular permeability, and neurovascular dysregulation. The main factors drivers are:
| Therapeutics | Target | Description | Stage |
| Anti-VEGF Agents | Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) | Inhibit VEGF to reduce vascular permeability and leakage. Used in diabetic macular edema, retinal vein occlusion, and wet age-related macular degeneration. | Approved |
| Corticosteroids | Inflammatory Pathways | Reduce inflammation and vascular permeability. Commonly used in uveitis and refractory macular edema. | Approved |
| Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) | Cyclooxygenase (COX) Enzyme | Inhibit COX to reduce prostaglandin production, decreasing inflammation and vascular permeability. Used in pseudophakic macular edema. | Approved |
| Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors (CAIs) | Carbonic Anhydrase Enzyme | Reduce fluid accumulation by inhibiting carbonic anhydrase, enhancing fluid absorption across the retinal pigment epithelium. | Approved |
| Immunomodulators | Immune System | Modulate the immune response to reduce inflammation. Used in severe uveitis cases. | Approved |
Disclaimer: Protheragen focuses on providing preclinical research service. This table is for information exchange purposes only. This table is not a treatment plan recommendation. For guidance on treatment options, please visit a regular hospital.
The macular edema therapeutics development requires addressing BRB dysfunction along with inflammation and fluid dynamics through a multidisciplinary approach. Drug discovery is accelerated with Protheragen's preclinical services which include advanced diagnostics, mechanistic studies, and translational model development, ensuring rapid progression to human trials.
Protheragen offers end-to-end preclinical solutions for macular edema, integrating target validation, lead optimization, and translational modeling. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.
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