Brief
Oral Danegaptide pill shows early promise for diabetic eye disease
A Phase Ib trial found the pill safe and biologically active in more than half of participants.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Researchers from Trinity College Dublin and Breye Therapeutics say an oral medication called Danegaptide could one day replace or complement eye‑injection therapy for non‑proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), the most common form of diabetic eye damage.
The drug, which targets the retina’s inner blood‑retina barrier, reduced vascular leakage and retinal swelling in pre‑clinical models, performing comparably to injectable anti‑VEGF treatments, according to a study published 23 September 2026 in Science Translational Medicine.
In a Phase Ib trial involving 24 NPDR patients, Danegaptide was safe and well‑tolerated; 55 % of participants showed early signs of biological activity, including reduced retinal leakage, lower central subfield thickness and disappearance of fluid‑filled cysts.
“Managing diabetic eye disease before irreversible damage occurs has long been constrained by the burden of invasive injections,” said Professor Matthew Campbell, chair of neurovascular genetics at Trinity College Dublin and senior author of the paper.
Long‑term benefits remain untested, and further trials are needed to confirm whether the pill can prevent vision loss in the broader diabetic population.
Key facts
- Danegaptide, an oral medication, reduced retinal leakage and swelling in pre‑clinical models of diabetic retinopathy. (scitechdaily.com)
- A Phase Ib trial with 24 NPDR patients found the drug safe and well‑tolerated. (scitechdaily.com)
- 55 % of trial participants showed early biological activity such as reduced retinal leakage and cyst disappearance. (scitechdaily.com)
Background
Earlier Felo coverage linked retinal health to systemic disease, noting that eye examinations can reveal early signs of heart trouble and diabetes (<a href="/news/eye-exam-heart-disease">Eye Exams May Reveal Early Signs of Heart Trouble, Experts Say</a>).
What we don't know yet
- Long‑term efficacy of Danegaptide in preventing vision loss
- Results from larger, later‑stage clinical trials
Sources
- [1] scitechdaily.com — originally reported as “A Simple Pill Could Treat Diabetic Eye Damage Before Vision Is Lost”
