Health
Experimental eye drops restore light perception in blind animal models
A new class of light-activated molecules successfully bypassed damaged photoreceptors to restore visually guided behaviors in mice and zebrafish.
The short version
- Researchers developed a class of light-activated small-molecule drugs, named "prosthe6," that restored light perception and visually guided behaviors in blind mice and zebrafish.
- The treatment targets surviving inner retinal circuitry to substitute for missing photoreceptors under ordinary ambient light, without requiring gene therapies or invasive implants.
- A spin-off company named Eyelumina is being formed to secure investment for translational development and eventual human clinical trials.
Key facts
- A research consortium led by the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia developed light-activated small-molecule drugs, called prosthe6, that act as "molecular prostheses" to restore vision in animal models.[ScienceDaily]
- The compounds target ON-bipolar neurons via the mGlu6 protein in surviving retinal circuitry, allowing the retina to respond to normal indoor or daylight illumination.[ScienceDaily]
- Two specific compounds, prosthe6-12 and prosthe6-15, restored innate light-avoidance behaviors in blind mice after being administered as eye drops and eye injections.[ScienceDaily]
- The study was published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, and the technology is protected by a patent.[ScienceDaily]
What remains uncertain
- The long-term safety, optimal formulation, and duration of the restored visual effects in animals remain under study.[ScienceDaily]
- It is not yet known if the treatment will be safe, effective, or capable of restoring high-quality vision in humans, as clinical trials have not yet begun.[ScienceDaily]
Sources
- Experimental eye drops help blind mice see againScienceDaily - Health