Diabetic retinopathy study unveils potential drug

New research has found that hypoglycaemia can worsen diabetic retinopathy by damaging the blood-retina barrier. 

A study, published in Science Translational Medicine, revealed that diabetic mice in induced periods of low sugar were impacted by a build up of a protein known as hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), which leads to overgrowth and leakage of blood vessels in the retina. 

An experimental drug known as 32-134D, which inhibits the HIF protein, has also been tested with positive results, and researchers intend to pursue further studies to HIF and conduct clinical studies of 32-134D in patients with diabetic retinopathy.