Use of PDE IV inhibitors to treat angiogenesis

[0013] Posterior segment neovascularization is the vision-threatening pathology responsible for the two most common causes of acquired blindness in developed countries: exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Currently the only approved treatments for posterior segment NV that occurs in exudative AMD is laser photocoagulation or photodynamic therapy with Visudyne®; both therapies involve occlusion of affected vasculature which results in localized laser-induced damage to the retina. Surgical interventions with vitrectomy and membrane removal are the only options currently available for patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. No strictly pharmacologic treatment has been approved for use against posterior segment NV, although several different compounds are being evaluated clinically, including, for example, anecortave acetate (Alcon Research, Ltd.), Macugen (Eyetech / Pfizer), Lucentis (Genentech / Novartis), squalamine (G