Current and future therapies for age-related macular degeneration

Background: Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness, with an increasing incidence as the elderly population expands. Objective: In this article we review current therapeutic strategies and discuss possible future targets. Methods: A review of the literature and ongoing clinical trials was undertaken. Results: Currently, established therapies for neovascular AMD-like photodynamic therapy and anti-VEGF therapies allow stabilization or even improvement of vision. Potential future drugs under development for advanced AMD or its prevention target the signal transduction cascade of different angiogenic molecules. These drugs intervene at different levels of the involved processes including the RNA production and specific protein expression as well as inflammatory, apoptotic, or metabolic processes. Conclusion: Combining different strategies targeting angiogenesis, inflammation and apoptosis, or interfering early in - or even prior to - the formation of choroidal neovascularization, may improve the future management of age-related macular degeneration.