Sustained Release Bevasizumab for the Treatment of AMD

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in those aged over 50, causing blurring, distortion and loss of central vision and almost always affects quality of life. There are two main types of AMD, 'wet' and 'dry'. Wet AMD is most severe but more treatable and occurs in about 1 in 10 cases. However it causes severe visual loss over a short time, sometimes just months or even hours / days if there is a haemorrhage. Current treatment requires monthly injections into the eye, which are unpleasant for the patient and carry a risk of infection. This project aims to prepare a novel, sustained release treatment to reduce the necessary frequency of injections, improving the patient experience and reducing the risks and costs of treatment.