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Pterygium is a prevalent disorder of the eye's surface that is characterized by the abnormal growth of fibrous and vascular tissue from the conjunctiva that expands onto the corneal surface. Protheragen, as a research service provider, provides a full range of services for diagnostics and therapeutics development for pterygium.
Pterygium is a triangular or wing-shaped fibrovascular overgrowth that arises from the bulbar conjunctiva and grows onto the cornea. It is the result of an environmental component disorder that includes UV light exposure, chronic irritation to the eye surface, and a family history of the disease. The worldwide distribution of pterygium is reported to range between 1.4% to 33%. The greater percentage is noted in the tropics and among certain outdoor professions. Pterygium is associated with astigmatism, corneal deformities, and visual obstructions; thus comprehensive management is very important.
Fig.1 Summary of the molecular biomarkers associated with the pathological mechanism of pterygium. (Sakti F. K., et al., 2021)
In the realm of pterygium research, molecular diagnostics have emerged as a promising area of focus. RNA sequencing at the single cell level has been utilised to explore the cellular diversity and mark the pterygium associated features. Studies on genetics have also included the polymorphisms of genes like MMP-1 and VEGF which are suggested to increase the risk of developing pterygium. These types of approaches give a deeper understanding of the origins of pterygium development and on its possible therapeutics options.
Adjuvant therapies are implemented alongside surgical procedures to improve the outcomes. Mitomycin C (MMC) is an extensively researched adjuvant that greatly decreases the recurrence of pterygium when applied intraoperatively or postoperatively. Anti-VEGF agents, such as bevacizumab, are effective in both new vessel formation and lowering the frequencies of recurrence. Another effective adjuvant in controlling recurrence is Cyclosporine A (CsA), with a reported rate of recurrence as low as 3.4%.
Novel methods of intervention aim to target the particular cellular pathways responsible for pterygium progression. One example is Rho kinase inhibitors which have been shown to reduce inflammation and fibrosis. Furthermore, using heat shock proteins (HSPs) as well as tight junction proteins to change cellular and intercellular adhesion is under investigation as a means of therapeutically altering stress at the cellular level. These new strategies seek to improve the efficacy and specificity of pterygium therapeutics.
We offer services for the entire spectrum of pterygium R&D which includes diagnostic assay development, drug discovery, preclinical testing, and animal model development. It is the collaboration of our multidisciplinary team of scientists that enables us to devise novel solutions for the complex tasks involved in developing therapies for pterygium.
Protheragen ensures that there is progress toward the development of new therapies targeting pterygiums by conducting innovative research and providing comprehensive services. We focus on pterygium therapeutics which allows us to transform scientific advancements into solutions for multi-faceted challenges within the field, due to our extensive knowledge in diagnostics and therapeutics. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.
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