Diabetic Eye Disease Overview

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common eye disease affecting people diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and a leading cause of blindness in adults. The term “diabetic retinopathy” refers to a variety of disorders characterized by changes in the eye’s innermost lining of light-sensitive cells we call the retina that can occur in people diagnosed with diabetes.  Diabetic eye diseases cause damage to the retina through swelling, fluid leaks, or abnormal growth of blood vessels, resulting in severe vision loss or blindness. Usually affecting both eyes, diabetic retinopathy may not be noticeable for some time, developing so gradually that serious retinal damage may take place before any changes in vision are noticed.

Alimera's Focus On Diabetic Eye Disease

Alimera Sciences Inc. is a privately held biopharmaceutical company that specializes in the research, development and commercialization of ophthalmic pharmaceuticals. We are currently in the process of completing two 36 month Phase 3 pivotal clinical trials with Iluvien™ for diabetic macular edema (DME). Combined enrollment of 956 patients was completed in October 2007 and a preliminary 24 month readout of the studies is planned for the end of 2009. As incidences of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy escalate, Alimera Sciences is in the forefront of research and development to meet the increasing need for reliable, effective treatments. Our substantial commitment of resources and extensive development experience indicates our dedication to provide effective remedies to the approximately 300,000* people diagnosed with diabetic macular edema each year. (*Source: Alimera Sciences management estimates.)

While we are dedicating much of our early resource allocation to these studies in DME, we look forward as well to applying our efforts with the Medidur™ delivery platform (used with Iluvien), super-antioxidants, and other therapies under investigation for the management and control of other retinal diseases.

Diabetes and the Eye