Danegaptide is the first oral drug designed for diabetic retinopathy, showing promise in a phase 1b trial with 24 NPDR patients.
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The drug stabilizes gap-junctions and protects against VEGF-induced down-regulation, reducing vascular leakage and capillary breakdown.
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The trial demonstrated good safety, tolerability, and early signs of biological activity, with over half of participants showing reduced vascular leakage.
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Oral administration of danegaptide could enable earlier intervention in NPDR, potentially reducing the burden of injection-based therapies.
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Improved patient adherence and outcomes may result from switching to oral therapy, especially for those with earlier stages of NPDR.
