Risuteganib-a novel integrin inhibitor for the treatment of non-exudative (dry) age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema

• Published in: Expert opinion on investigational drugs Vol. 29; no. 6; p. 547
• Main Authors: Shaw, Lincoln T, Mackin, Anna, Shah, Reanna, Jain, Siona, Jain, Prisha, Nayak, Ravi, Hariprasad, Seenu M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 02-06-2020
• Subjects: Animals; Diabetic Retinopathy - drug therapy; Diabetic Retinopathy - pathology; Humans; Integrins - antagonists & inhibitors; Macular Degeneration - drug therapy; Macular Degeneration - pathology; Macular Edema - drug therapy; Macular Edema - pathology; Peptides - administration & dosage; Peptides - pharmacology; dry age-related macular degeneration; non-exudative age-related macular degeneration; Luminate; RGD peptide; intravitreal; ALG-1001; Risuteganib; diabetic macular edema; integrin inhibitor
• ISSN: 1744-7658
• DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2020.1763953

Non-exudative (dry) age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME) are leading causes of vision loss worldwide. Besides age-related eye disease study (AREDS) vitamin supplements, there are no efficacious pharmaceutical interventions for dry AMD available. While numerous pharmacologics are available to treat diabetic macular edema (DME), many patients respond suboptimally to existing therapies. Risuteganib is a novel anti-integrin peptide that targets the multiple integrin heterodimers involved in the pathophysiology of dry AMD and DME. Inhibiting these selected integrin heterodimers may benefit patients with these conditions.
This article offers a brief overview of current pharmaceuticals available for dry AMD and DME. The proposed role of integrins in AMD and DME is reviewed and later, risuteganib, a novel anti-integrin peptide is introduced. The data from initial Phase 1 and Phase 2 risuteganib clinical trials are discussed in the latter part of the paper.
While there are currently limited treatment options for dry AMD, more data are needed before we can truly evaluate the benefits of adopting risuteganib into the clinic. Conversely, several effective treatment options exist for DME; hence, risuteganib must show that it can add to these results, especially in those with refractory disease, before retina specialists adopt risuteganib into their treatment regimens.