Light-activated drugs restore vision in blind mice, study shows

A consortium led by the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) has developed a new class of light-activated drugs that restored visual perception in blind mice without implants or genetic modifications. The molecules, called prosthe6, act as "molecular prostheses" that take over the function of lost photoreceptors in degenerative retinal diseases like age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa Source: infobae. The study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS) shows that treated mice regained their natural light-avoidance reflex under ordinary ambient light conditions Source: elmundoes.

How it works

In healthy eyes, photoreceptors capture light and signal to bipolar cells via the protein mGlu6. When photoreceptors die, the circuit remains intact but silent. The prosthe6 molecules bind directly to mGlu6 and mimic the missing signal when exposed to light Source: elmundoes. The drug can be administered either by injection or as a simple eye drop, making it less invasive than current alternatives like gene therapy or electronic retinal implants Source: infobae.

Key advantages

• No need for costly surgery or complex genetic modifications Source: infobae.
• The visual response occurred spontaneously without prior training Source: infobae.
• Works under normal indoor lighting levels, equivalent to a cloudy day Source: elmundoes.

Next steps The technology is patented, and the team is working toward clinical trials in humans through the spin-off company Eyelumina Source: infobae. However, the researchers caution that prosthe6 does not cure the underlying degeneration but rather compensates for lost photoreceptor function Source: infobae.