Ocular delivery of nucleic acids: antisense oligonucleotides, aptamers and siRNA

E Fattal, A Bochot - Advanced drug delivery reviews, 2006 - Elsevier
E Fattal, A Bochot
Advanced drug delivery reviews, 2006Elsevier
Nucleic acids have gained a lot of interest for the treatment of ocular diseases. The first to
enter in clinic has been Vitravene® an antisense oligonucleotide for the treatment of
cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and more recently, research on aptamers have led to the
marketing of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor (Macugen®) for the
treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The siRNAs appear very promising
as they are very potent inhibitors of protein expression. Despite their potential, nucleic acids …
Nucleic acids have gained a lot of interest for the treatment of ocular diseases. The first to enter in clinic has been Vitravene® an antisense oligonucleotide for the treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and more recently, research on aptamers have led to the marketing of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor (Macugen®) for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The siRNAs appear very promising as they are very potent inhibitors of protein expression. Despite their potential, nucleic acids therapeutic targets of nucleic acid-based drugs are mainly located in the posterior segment of the eye requiring invasive administration which can be harmful if repeated. Their intracellular penetration in some cases needs to be enhanced. This is the reason why adequate delivery systems were designed either to insure cellular penetration, protection against degradation or to allow long-term delivery. A combination of both effects was also developed for an implantable system. In conclusion, the intraocular administration of nucleic acids offers interesting perspectives for the treatment of ocular diseases.
Elsevier