Universiteit Gent

Vib Vzw

Elisabeth Van Aken

Joris Delanghe

Nico Callewaert

Loes Van Schie

The disclosure relates to the treatment of blindness due to age-related presbyopia, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR) and/or diabetic macular edema (DME) in a human or animal. Age-related presbyopia is the loss of accommodation in any individual more than 40-50 years old, currently treated by reading glasses. AMD is the most common cause of irreversible loss of sight in persons >65 years in the western world. At this time, no treatment is available for the dry form of AMD. The dry form of AMD is characterized by vision threatening Drüsen, which are (sub)retinal accumulations of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and fluorophores. DR and DME are the most common cause of irreversible loss of sight in persons <65 years in the western world. Current therapies for age-related presbyopia, AMD, DR and DME are disappointing and do not prevent the evolution to vision impairment, atrophy or blindness. The disclosure specifically relates to the administration of fructosamine-3-kinase and its cofactor(s). This results in deglycation and inactivation of AGEs and fluorophores.

Compositions for use to treat advanced glycation end products-dependent ocular diseases

A non-surgical treatment of cataract in a human or animal. The invention specifically relates to the administration of a deglycating enzyme and its cofactor(s), which results in the deglycation of the lens crystallins. The disclosure thus relates to a minimal invasive type of treatment of cataract, which is easier and cheaper compared to existing surgical methods.

Growing community of inventors

Heusden, Belgium

Elisabeth Van Aken