Pipeline Power: Future Treatments and Clinical Trials for AMD
While the Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Market is largely dominated by anti-VEGF drug therapies, surgical and laser-based treatments still represent a notable segment, particularly for certain types of AMD. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and laser photocoagulation have been used for decades to treat wet AMD by destroying the abnormal blood vessels in the macula. However, these therapies have largely been replaced by the more effective and less damaging anti-VEGF injections. Today, surgical interventions for AMD are primarily focused on complex cases or for vision rehabilitation. For instance, some surgical procedures aim to reposition the retina or to remove hemorrhages from the macula. In the future, a promising area of research involves surgical implantation of retinal prosthesis or stem cell-based therapies to restore vision in patients with advanced, irreversible vision loss. These highly specialized surgical treatments, while not a mass-market solution, address critical clinical needs for a specific patient population. As the…