Artistic rendition of diabetic eye disease highlighting neovascularisation in patients with PDR. Credit: Isabella Sodhi

US researchers have found that experimental drug 32-134D, previously shown to slow liver tumour growth in mice, could halt proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and diabetic macular oedema (DMO) in a mouse model and in human retinal cell lines. 

The drug prevented diabetic retinal vascular disease by inhibiting production of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), which is known to regulate the expression of several proteins, including vascular endothelial growth factor, said researchers from the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins Medicine. Five days after injecting mouse eyes with the drug, the study team said they observed diminished levels of HIF and the inhibition of neovascularisation and vessel leakage. 32-134D remained at therapeutic levels in the retina for 12 days post-injection, they added. 

“This paper highlights how inhibiting HIF with 32-134D is not just a potentially effective therapeutic approach, but a safe one, too,” said co-author Assistant Professor Akrit Sodhi, adding further studies in animal models are needed before moving to clinical trials.