The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 280 No 7496 p392
5 April 2008

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New avenue for eye treatments

New treatments for vascular eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, could target a protein involved in stabilising retinal vasculature, according to new research published online (Nature Medicine, 16 March 2008).

Robo 4 is one of a group of proteins with well established nervous system functions. Researchers found Robo 4 is also involved in maintaining vascular integrity and studies in mice showed it is essential for inhibiting processes associated with retinal vascular disease.