A single injection of a drug which clears senescent retinal cells led to long-term visual improvements in patients with diabetic macular oedema (DMO), US researchers reported.

The research team conducted a phase 1 study of Unity Biotechnology’s UBX1325 (foselutoclax) in patients with advanced DMO for whom anti-VEGF therapy was no longer considered beneficial. In clearing damaged cells, UBX1325 counters fluid accumulation and retinal thickening, removing an underlying source of pathogenesis and allowing healthy cells to regenerate and remodel retinal vasculature, they explained. Results of the previous phase 2 Behold study showed a single injection of UBX1325 led to a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in best corrected visual acuity of +6.2 ETDRS letters from baseline at 48 weeks, they wrote in Nature Medicine. “As senescent cell burden is observed in many other diseases, this study highlights the potential benefit of senolytic drugs for various age-related and metabolic diseases,” said Dr Anirvan Ghosh, co-author and Unity CEO.

Early results of a phase 2b clinical trial evaluating UBX1325 versus aflibercept are expected in late 2024.