SOD Mimetics in Diabetic Retinopathy and Macular Edema:

Normal aerobic metabolism is accompanied by the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide, which is removed by the action of the endogenous enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD). However, when an excess of superoxide is present, for example when tissues are forced to metabolize an excess of glucose, as in patients with diabetes, oxidative damage to the tissues occurs. This pathophysiologic mechanism is common to a number of disease states, including diabetic retinopathy (Kowluru and Chan, Exp Diabetes Res 2007). In 2008, Inotek acquired a portfolio of compounds that can act in biological systems as SOD mimetics, including two clinical-stage compounds (INO-6001 and INO-6002) that have proven to be well tolerated in clinical trials. These safe and biologically active compounds are currently in preclinical testing to assess their potential activity in diabetic retinopathy and macular edema.