A team from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) develops eye drops based on the natural molecule vasoinhibin to treat diabetic retinopathyone of the main causes of loss of vision in people with diabetes.

The researcher at the Institute of Neurobiology (INB), Juan Pablo Roblesexplained that this advance aims to replace current treatments that require injections frequent, expensive and not always effective intraocular injections to stop disease.

Diabetic retinopathy is a chronic condition that damages the retina – the tissue responsible for capturing light – and represents the main cause of visual impairment in adults of productive age in Mexico, with direct impact on quality of life and health systems.

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The development is based on decades of research in the Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory from the INB, led by Carmen Clapp, where the role of vasoinhibin in the control of growth of cells has been studied. blood vessels.

The breaking point came when the team identified that the biological activity of this molecule is concentrated in only three of its 123 amino acids. This discovery allowed us to design a drug simplest and most viable in the form of drops.

The new therapy works by blocking angiogenesis – abnormal formation of blood vessels – associated with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the target of current treatments. Unlike these, it also inhibits other related molecules, which could translate into greater effectiveness.

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The project is moving towards its validation in humans with the goal of offering a non-invasive alternative for retinal diseases.

The most recent findings were published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, with researcher Magdalena Zamora as first author, and received editorial recognition for their scientific relevance.

The development represents an example of transnational innovation in Mexico: basic science moving towards a clinical application with potential global impact.

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