The VHIR leads a European trial who first used an eye drops against diabetic retinopathy.

-diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in the population of working age in industrialized countries and is an important source of consumption of healthcare resources. Current treatments are implemented in later stages of the disease, are aggressive and have adverse effects

Barcelona, February 2013.- last week began EUROCONDOR, a European clinical trial led from the Vall d ’ Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), which seeks to evaluate a new treatment and pioneer for diabetic retinopathy. This essay, multicenter and promoted by the European Consortium for the early treatment of diabetic retinopathy, determine the therapeutic effectiveness of an eyedropper to administrate it in the initial stages of this disease, one of the leading causes of blindness in developed countries. Dr. Rafael Simó, director of the Diabetes and metabolism of VHIR research group, is the Coordinator of the project, which involves BCN Peptides (Catalan biopharmaceutical company) and 17 centers, hospitals, universities and research centres, in 8 European countries.

Diabetic retinopathy (Dr) is an eye disease that can occur in people who have diabetes, primarily those who do not have good control of their disease. Globally, approximately 30% of the diabetic population suffers from this disease. In the RD changes occur in the tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina, at the back of the eye, which in the long run can lead to a severe loss of vision or even blindness.

In absolute numbers, the impact of Dr and its consequences is enormous if we take into account the number of people affected by diabetes in Europe and around the world. And therefore, the economic consequences of this metabolic problem are, since only in Catalonia, there are half a million people with diabetes. Healthcare costs for patients with RD are almost double that for non-RD patients and greatly increase with the severity of this disease. That can delay or even prevent the emergence of Dr brings clear benefits not only for patients, but for the whole of the health system.

from left to right: Eila Van Reck, Dr. Rafael Simó, Coordinator of this European project and Dr. Cristina Hernandez.

A group of experts (ophthalmologists, endocrinologists, and basic researchers) of 11 clinical centers Europe and a Catalan company (BCN Peptides) are responsible for the every day of this trial clinical pioneer. The study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of an eye drops to treat the RD and opens a new strategy to combat the early stages of this complication of diabetes. This essay is based on two neuroprotective drugs: somatostatin (a hormone peptide presented in a new formulation – eye drops – patented by BCN Peptides) and brimonidine (a drug currently used to treat glaucoma). It is a prospective and randomized trial of 2 years duration and this week begins the period of inclusion of patients.

Since the first works with the research group of Diabetes and metabolism of VHIR somatostatin has been a growing evidence suggests that retinal Neurodegeneration plays an important role in the occurrence of diabetic retinopathy. In fact, the study aims to demonstrate that the RD, before being a disease of the small vessels of the retina, is a neurodegenerative disease. Why EUROCONDOR will conduct a clinical trial in phases II and III to assess whether the neuroprotective therapeutic strategies are effective not only prevent the Neurodegeneration of the retina, but also to prevent the development and progression of early diabetic retinopathy and slow down its evolution.

” Until recently, the use of eye drops do not had been considered a proper way for the administration of drugs in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy, since it was thought that they came not to the retina”, says Dr. Rafael Simó, director of the Diabetes and metabolism of VHIR research group and coordinator of the project. However, recent studies have shown that many drugs administered in eye drops are able to reach the retina at therapeutic concentrations. Therefore and based on experimental tests and security that we have, we are convinced that the drugs that we study, administered in the form of eye drops, will give good results and mark and a before and an after in the clinical course of these patients. ”

study EUROCONDOR could have a considerable impact in the prevention of the RD, because that puts the Neurodegeneration of the retina as a new therapeutic target. In addition, explains Dr. Simó, the methods used in this project will allow to diagnose diabetic retinopathy in incipient stages and can change the current methods of early detection of this disease ”.

This project provides a new insight into the pathophysiology of diabetic retinopathy and opens up a new range of therapeutic possibilities based on neuroprotection.

why VHIR leads a study of these features?

This EUROCONDOR project combines a basic experimental slope and a clinic. Dr. Rafael Simó was the first to present studies showing that somatostatin could have this neuroprotective effect on diabetic retinopathy. BCN Peptides preclinical studies in collaboration with the research group of Dr. Rafael Simó have contributed the proof of concept ” which demonstrates the effectiveness of an eyedropper of somatostatin both in the prevention of Neurodegeneration of the retina and in slowing the progression of diabetic retinopathy.

The entire phase I study conducted it BCN Peptides as a sponsor and done entirely in VHIR. All the studies so far have provided sufficient scientific evidence for planning a clinical trial of this magnitude. Dr. Rafael Simó is one of the world experts on diabetic retinopathy and has led all studies that constitute the central pillars on which this project is designed.