Disease Areas

Glaucoma.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world (4.5 million people worldwide).

Glaucoma is an optic neuropathy caused by death of a patient’s retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and is estimated to affect more than 60 million people worldwide.

There is huge unmet need for therapeutics that protect against neurodegeneration in glaucoma.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common condition and is the leading cause of severe, permanent vision loss in people over 60.

There are two types of AMD, most people have a form known as ‘early’ or ‘dry’ AMD, a minority of patients with dry AMD can progress to wet AMD. Wet AMD is more advanced, causing vision loss when abnormal blood vessels grow in the eye; unlike dry AMD, wet AMD can currently be treated.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic condition that affects the brain and the spinal cord, causing a range of symptoms such as impaired leg or arm movement and problems with balance. MS is caused by demyelination leading to debilitating disease.

MS can cause blurred vision and sight loss, which is a common mode of presentation of this condition. MS is a lifelong condition affecting more than 100,000 people in the UK.

Alzheimer’s Disease.

Alzheimer’s Disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disease and the most common form of dementia in the UK, accounting for 60-70% of dementia cases in older people.

Dementia is a term used to describe a group of related symptoms associated with the deterioration of brain function. Dementia can affect memory and can impact how people feel, act and function. Currently around 850,000 people in the UK are affected by dementia.

Parkinson’s Disease (PD).

Parkinson’s Disease is estimated to affect 145,000 people in the UK, around 1 in every 350 adults. Parkinson’s is a neurological condition, in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years.

Parkinson’s Disease is caused by the death of nerve cells in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra, leading to a reduction of dopamine, which plays a vital role in regulating the movement of the body. 

Diabetes Mellitus.

Diabetes Mellitus can affect the eye and lead to complications in vision. It is the leading cause of visual impairment in the working age population, causing new blood vessel growth and retinal neurodegeneration.

The complications of retinal diabetes are now treatable.