A new drug designed to treat common forms of blindness and eye disease affecting the elderly and diabetics is set to be trialled.

A new drug designed to treat common forms of blindness and eye disease affecting the elderly and diabetics is set to be trialled.

Researchers from the University of Bristol yesterday revealed plans for clinical trials of a drug to treat eye conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic etinopathy. They say the research, which is supported by leading eye research charity, Fight for Sight, offers hope to the millions of people world-wide with the conditions.

Professor Dave Bates and Dr Steve Harper, of Microvascular Research Laboratories (MVRL), in the University of Bristol, have identified a novel, naturally occurring form of a compound which inhibits the formation of new blood vessels - a major cause of the "wet" type of AMD and also diabetic retinopathy.

This protein, a growth factor known as VEGF165b, is being developed ready for testing in clinical trials due to take place in 2009. The drug technology is being licensed to a biopharmaceutical company, PhiloGene Inc.

Professor Bates said: "We discovered the potential of VEGF165b in 2001 as part of our ongoing research into the role of blood vessel growth in disease, including eye conditions and cancer, and have spent the last six years proving its efficacy.

"We plan to demonstrate clinical proof of concept of the drug in diabetic retinopathy and wet AMD patients by mid-2009 so this is a very exciting time for us."

Age-related macular degeneration is a disease affecting the macula, the part of the eye responsible for sharp, central vision. If the cells of the macular are damaged and stop working, this is known as macular degeneration, resulting in an inability to see fine details, to read, or to recognise faces.

When this occurs later in life it is known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). There are two types of AMD - "wet" and "dry". Wet accounts for 10% of cases.

Michele Acton, Fight for Sight chief executive, said: "The development of a new drug to treat some of the world's leading causes of blindness such as AMD and diabetic retinopathy is very exciting.

"We are delighted that Fight for Sight is supporting such important research and we look forward to seeing the impact on patient care in the near future."