New ocular therapeutics: a view from the patenting perspective

This feature article provides an overview of the newest therapeutic developments for ocular diseases, based on patents and patent applications that were published in the 12-month period from November 2005 to October 2006. In contrast to peer-reviewed literature covering breakthroughs in basic science research, the patenting perspective discloses the intentions of the pharmaceutical industry for imminent drug development. Selected documents describing drug delivery, dry eye syndrome, ocular infections and lesions, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration are discussed. The role of RNA interference, which is of particular interest in ophthalmology research, is also highlighted.