New Eyedrop therapy for Macular Degeneration

A new therapy currently undergoing clinical studies offers hope to macular degeneration patients. Pazonpanib which has been used as an oral treatment for renal cell carcinoma can also be administered as topical eye drops. The Pazopanib drops work to prevent irregular blood vessels and the resulting bleeding under the macula. If the drops are proven effective in the continuing clinical studies and receive FDA approval, they will offer macular degeneration patients an alternative to painful injections in the eye. While the oral form of Pazopanib has an adverse side effect of elevating liver enzymes, it is believed that the topical form of the drug will not pose a risk of this side effect. No serious side affects have been noted but further studies are required to determine the safety and efficacy of the drops.* More information about this study is available at: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00463320 Andrea Schumann Staff Writer