- AMD is the leading cause of vision loss among older adults
- As of 2020, ~200 million people worldwide are affected by AMD
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the deterioration of the retina and choroid that leads to a substantial loss in sharpness of vision. Yellow deposits under the retina are called drusen, and having them may increase a person’s risk of developing AMD.
AMD is classified as early AMD, intermediate AMD, and advanced AMD. A large number of drusen being present in the eye is an important indicator of early AMD.
Geographic atrophy (GA), a late-stage and severe form of AMD, is a multifactorial and complex disease, associated with inflammation and oxidative stress, which causes atrophy of the macula.
GA is a progressive and irreversible condition affecting over 5 million patients globally and leads to significant central vision loss and blindness:
- GA is a leading cause of blindness in people over 65 years of age.
- As life expectancy increases, this burden will become greater in the foreseeable future and negatively impact patient independence.
Johnson & Johnson is exploring novel class therapies, including a gene therapy for the treatment of geographic atrophy.