Our Science: Retinal Health

Over 300 million people worldwide are at risk of vision loss due to retinal conditions, and subsequently at risk of the profound and devastating impact on their lives that sight loss can have.¹There is a need for earlier detection of retinal diseases and their progression, to enable earlier delivery of the right treatment at the right time, to prevent irreversible vision loss, preserve the retina, and protect people’s way of life.

Here at Boehringer Ingelheim, our retinal health research builds on a long history of research in retinopathies as a complication of diabetes. Building on this experience and applying knowledge and insights from our other research areas in oncology, inflammation, neurodegeneration, fibrosis and cardiometabolic diseases means we have the ability to tackle the multifactorial pathophysiology of retinal diseases to achieve our ambition of transforming the retinal health landscape.

Applying knowledge and insights from oncology, inflammation, neurodegeneration, fibrosis and cardiometabolic diseases.

Dr. Ulrike Gräfe-Mody, Global Head Retinal Health, Boehringer Ingelheim — Dr. Ulrike Gräfe-Mody,
Global Head Retinal Health, Boehringer Ingelheim

“We first saw the potential to help people with eye diseases as a complication of diabetes. It started with research in diabetic macular edema and diabetic retinopathies. And then we identified new mechanisms and molecules with broader application beyond diabetic eye diseases.”

A Holistic Research Approach

Our research takes a holistic approach, targeting key mechanisms in the pathogenesis of retinal diseases – vascular dysfunction, neuronal dysfunction and inflammation. We are pursuing both oral and intravitreal treatments as part of an innovative pre-clinical and clinical portfolio grounded in these mechanisms to help us deliver therapeutic advances in our core indications. For inherited retinal diseases, we are also exploring opportunities in gene therapy.

Our Areas of Focus in Retinal Disease

Age-related macular degeneration (Neovascular AMD and Geographic Atrophy)
Diabetes-related retinal disease (Diabetic Retinopathy, Diabetic Macular Edema and Diabetic Macular Ischemia)
Inherited retinal disease (current focus on Stargardt Disease)

Collaboration is Key

The work of our own team of dedicated scientists is complemented by collaborations with academic and advocacy organizations, alongside partnerships with biotechs and leaders in ophthalmic digital technology. We believe that by working together we can learn more, do more and achieve more to accelerate the delivery of much-needed new treatments to patients.