| Since Macular Degeneration or AMD is an incurable | | | | Oklahoma, in collaboration with the biotechnology |
| disease, there have been numerous experiments | | | | company Copernicus Therapeutics, Inc. of |
| and tests conducted by researchers to halt or | | | | Cleveland, Ohio, demonstrated that compacted |
| slow down the rate of its progression and vision | | | | DNA nanoparticles (CDN) may be a highly |
| loss caused by the disease. While most of the | | | | effective mechanism for the delivery of healthy |
| results have been disappointing, some of them | | | | genes to the eyes of people afflicted with Macular |
| may be actually helpful in the treatment of AMD. | | | | degeneration. |
| The RHEO procedure, a type of blood filtration or | | | | Iridex officials announced at the Macula Society |
| apheresis, has been devised to treat dry AMD by | | | | Meeting in Key Biscayne, Florida in February 2005 |
| removing certain substances in the blood plasma | | | | that an experimental treatment developed by the |
| like Macro-proteins and fatty components in the | | | | company, known as Transpupillary |
| blood, related to the development of AMD. The | | | | Thermotherapy (TTT), that utilizes an infrared |
| RHEO device is awaiting FDA approval. | | | | laser combined with drug treatment, appeared to |
| A type of drug developed by Genentech, called | | | | be effective in treating certain AMD patients with |
| Avastin is thought to be effective in treating | | | | more severe vision loss. |
| AMD. The drug is administered intravenously and it | | | | Development of other experimental drugs is also |
| targets a certain type of protein which may be | | | | in progress. Retaane by Alcon, squalamine lactate |
| instrumental in the development of AMD. Some | | | | by Genaera Corp. and combretastatin by |
| results show improved vision in AMD patients | | | | OXiGENE are some of the more promising drugs |
| within one week of administering the drug. | | | | that may be instrumental in arresting the |
| In May 2005, Dr. Muna Naash, University of | | | | development of abnormal cells in the eye. |