Have you ever heard of age-related macular degeneration? It usually only develops in one eye, and may later appear in the other, and there is no cure. In Portugal, it is estimated to affect more than 350 thousand people.
Portuguese researchers are preparing a clinical trial that aims to discover whether a diabetes medicine can be used to treat the main cause of blindness after the age of 55 in developed countries.
Age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, has three phases and usually develops only in one eyewhich may later appear in the other. The causes can be multiple: age, genetic and environmental factorss.
There is treatment only for the most advanced phase, but Portuguese researchers want to change this scenario.
To this end, in this clinical trial – with patients from the São José Local Health Unit – a new use will be tested for a medicine that, until now, has only been used for treat diabetes.
It will involve 140 patients: 70 receive the medicine, the other 70 will be used for comparison. Should start in early 2026.
AMD has no cure. In Portugal, it is estimated to affect more than 350 thousand people. Around 45 thousand are in the advanced stage.
