COMPOUNDS AND PRODRUGS THEREOF FOR THE TREATMENT OF OPHTHALMIC DISEASE
The invention provides inhibitors of α-crystallin aggregation, including prodrugs of a steroid and/or sterol, and methods of using said α-crystallin aggregation inhibitors to, e.g., treat or prevent cataracts in a subject having or at risk of developing cataracts.
1 . A method of treating or preventing cataract, the method comprising administering to an individual in need thereof and effective amount of a composition comprising a prodrug of a steroid or sterol.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered topically.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said cataract is an age-related cataract or a diabetic cataract.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the individual has a hereditary form of cataract with early onset.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the individual has a R120G mutation and/or a D109H mutation in cryAB.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the prodrug of the steroid or sterol is an ester, oxazolidine, carbamate, ketoxime, quaternary salt, phosphate, or sulfate prodrug of the steroid or sterol.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the prodrug of the steroid or sterol is a pivalyl ester, methyl ester, ethyl ester, isopropyl ester, butyryl ester, hexanoyl ester, isovaleryl ester, benzyl ester, acetyl ester, ethylsuccinyl ester, and 2 -glycyl ester, monophosphate, sulfate, or (acyloxy)alkylcarbamate prodrug of the steroid or sterol.