The only FDA-approved treatments for dry AMD as of 2023 are two injectable drugs, which are limited by concerns over complications from intravitreal injections and modest efficacy in restoring vision.

A research team led by Dr. Moon-Hyeong Seo from the Natural Product Drug Development Center at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) has developed a new therapeutic agent for dry AMD that can be administered as eye drops. The work is published in the journal Advanced Science.

Eye drops are the most preferred drug delivery method in the ophthalmic market, yet developing eye drop formulations targeting the retina, located in the posterior segment of the eye, remains a significant challenge.