Boehringer Ingelheim and Palatin Technologies are collaborating to develop an innovative therapy for diabetic retinopathy and potentially, other retinal diseases.
Palatin, a biopharmaceutical company, develops first-in-class medicines based on molecules that modulate the activity of the melanocortin receptor systems, with targeted, receptor-specific product candidates for the treatment of diseases with significant unmet medical need and commercial potential.
Diabetic retinopathy, including diabetic macular oedema (DME), affects one in three people with diabetes and is the leading cause of blindness in working-age people.1 Studies suggest that patients with DME face 30-50% higher healthcare costs than those with diabetes alone,2 underscoring the need for new approaches that mitigate the necessity of long-term, intensive care that often requires frequent monitoring and specialised procedures.
this mechanistic approach may also be applicable in retinal diseases beyond DR where high unmet needs remain
“Millions of people worldwide face a progressive decline in their independence and connection to the world due to vision loss caused by complications of diabetic retinopathy, such as DME,” said Remko Bakker, Head of Eye Health and Research Beyond Borders at Boehringer Ingelheim. “Given the high treatment burden associated with DR, the potential of a melanocortin receptor agonist is a strategic fit with our pipeline focussing on addressing the three main drivers of retinal disease: inflammation, vascular dysfunction, and neurodegeneration. Importantly, this mechanistic approach may also be applicable in retinal diseases beyond DR where high unmet needs remain.”
References
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National diabetes statistics report: Estimates of diabetes and its burden in the United States, 2014. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2014.
2. Cho H, Choi KS, Bae S, et al. Healthcare resource use and costs of diabetic macular oedema for patients with antivascular endothelial growth factor versus a dexamethasone intravitreal implant in Korea: a population-based study. BMJ Open. 2019 Sep 20;9(9):e030930. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030930.
