Breakthrough treatment offers hope for elderly blindness

Wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) presents a significant challenge for the elderly, often leading to blindness. However, a groundbreaking treatment is on the horizon, offering renewed hope for patients.

UNSW and Filamon have joined forces to develop a revolutionary treatment for wet AMD. Unlike current therapies that require monthly injections directly into the eyeball, this new treatment aims to be self-administered as an eye-dropper formulation.

The potential impact of this treatment is immense. Not only does it promise to halt disease progression, but it also offers a more patient-friendly approach, eliminating the discomfort and inconvenience associated with current treatments.

Supported by a generous grant from the Australian Federal Government’s Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) scheme, Filamon is accelerating the development of this innovative treatment.

Wet AMD affects approximately 1 in 7 Australians over the age of 50, with the current treatment regimen posing significant challenges for patients. With the potential for a more effective and easily administered treatment, there is hope for the millions of individuals worldwide affected by this debilitating condition.

The new treatment, based on the molecule BT2, offers several advantages over existing therapies. It targets multiple disease components, can be administered topically, and is more cost-effective to produce.

Filamon’s collaboration with UNSW, along with other key partners, underscores the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to tackling complex healthcare issues like wet AMD. By combining expertise from various fields, researchers aim to bring this life-changing treatment to patients as quickly as possible.

Macular Disease Foundation Australia CEO Dr Kathy Chapman believes involving the community in treatment development is crucial for ensuring its effectiveness and relevance to patients’ needs.

Filamon CEO Dr Graham Kelly emphasises the urgent need for improved treatments for wet AMD. “Our task now is to translate that advantage into stopping more people from becoming blind by offering a product that is easier to use and works better,” Dr Kelly said.

Ritchelle Drilon

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Ritchelle is a Content Producer for Healthcare Channel, Australia’s premier resource of information for healthcare.

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