Source : Sylentis, R&D department.
Glaucoma is a progressive ocular syndrome characterized by degeneration of the optic nerve and irreversible visual field loss. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is the main risk factor for glaucoma. Increased IOP is the result of an imbalance between synthesis and outflow of aqueous humor. Blocking β2 adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) has shown to reduce IOP by decreasing production of aqueous humor at the ciliary body. SYL040012 is a siRNA designed to specifically silence ADRB2 currently under development for glaucoma treatment.
Here we show that SYL040012 specifically reduces ADRB2 expression in cell cultures and eye tissue. The compound enters the eye shortly after administration in eye drops and is rapidly distributed among structures of the anterior segment of the eye.
In addition, SYL040012 is actively taken up by cells of the ciliary body but not by cells of systemic organs such as the lungs, where inhibition of ADRB2 could cause undesirable side effects. Moreover, SYL040012 reduces IOP in normotensive and hypertensive animal models and the effect appears to be long-lasting and extremely well tolerated both locally and systemically.
Molecular Therapy (2013); doi:10.1038/mt.2013.216.
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P.D. : Sylentis presente en el 89 CONGRESO DE LA SOCIEDAD ESPAÑOLA DE OFTALMOLOGÍA que se esta celebrando en Adeje ( Santa Cruz de Tenerife ) del 25 al 28 Septiembre 2013 .