PRG-4: Application in the treatment of dry age related macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness in developed countries, with late onset AMD being the leading cause of blindness in patients older than 60. 196 million people are currently estimated to suffer from AMD, further increasing to 288 million by 2040. By the age of 80, it has been estimated that one in two Canadians will suffer from AMD. More Canadians have AMD – the leading cause of vision loss among Canadians – than have breast cancer, prostate cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease combined.

The disease progresses from a dry form to a wet form with an increasing incidence of visual impairment. While the wet form of the disease can be treated, in some cases, with painful and expensive monthly injections into the back of the eye, the dry form of the disease currently has no treatment aside from vitamin therapy which has not shown real effectiveness.

Proteoglycan 4 (PRG-4), a protein that is commonly found in joints and has been shown to have lubricating properties, has recently been shown by us to be present in the back of the eye. It is believed that the known anti-inflammatory properties of this protein have the potential to be harnessed to provide an effective treatment for dry AMD. The project will focus on demonstrating the impact of PRG-4 on the cells of the retina under conditions of stress as well as examining the response of ocular tissue to PRG-4 treatment. Optimization of PRG-4 delivery to the back of the eye will be performed with a goal of minimizing the number and frequency of injections necessary for these patients. The goal of the project is to understand the potential of PRG-4 or other anti-inflammatory molecules for treating dry AMD, for stopping the progression of the condition, or for minimizing its progression, allowing aging patients to maintain their vision for longer.