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Regenerative Therapy by Suprachoroidal Cell Autograft in Dry Age-related Macular Degeneration: Preliminary In Vivo Report
10:24

Regenerative Therapy by Suprachoroidal Cell Autograft in Dry Age-related Macular Degeneration: Preliminary In Vivo Report

Published on: February 12, 2018

Weekly vaccination with Copaxone (glatiramer acetate) as a potential therapy for dry age-related macular degeneration

Gennady Landa1, Oleg Butovsky, Johai Shoshani

  • 1Department of Ophthalmology, Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, Israel. doctor.landa@gmail.com

Current Eye Research
|December 17, 2008
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Copaxone treatment significantly reduced drusen area in patients with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This suggests a potential therapeutic benefit for Copaxone in managing AMD progression.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Drusen formation in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) shares similarities with Alzheimer's disease (AD) amyloid deposits.
  • Microglial activation in AD can lead to neurotoxicity and impaired neurogenesis.
  • Copaxone (glatiramer acetate) has shown neuroprotective effects in AD models by modulating microglia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if Copaxone can reduce drusen in dry AMD, similar to its effects on amyloid deposits in AD.
  • To explore Copaxone's potential as a therapeutic agent for age-related chronic neurodegenerative diseases.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized trial involving patients over 50 with intermediate dry AMD.
  • Participants received weekly subcutaneous injections of Copaxone (20 mg) or sham injections for 12 weeks.
  • Total drusen area (TDA) was measured at baseline, 6, and 12 weeks using Image-Pro software.

Main Results:

  • The Copaxone group showed a significant decrease in TDA from 48130 to 16205 AU over 12 weeks.
  • The control (sham injection) group exhibited minimal change in TDA (32294 to 32781 AU).

Conclusions:

  • Copaxone demonstrated a reduction in drusen area in dry AMD patients.
  • These preliminary findings suggest Copaxone may be a viable treatment for reducing drusen accumulation in AMD.

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