Researchers are testing metformin as a topical eye drop to slow age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss in people over 50. The drug, already used by millions to manage diabetes, is being reformulated by Curative Biotechnology into a sterile ophthalmic formulation that could offer a new treatment pathway for dry AMD, the most common form of the disease .

Why Are Scientists Testing a Diabetes Drug for Eye Disease?

Metformin has long been known for its ability to regulate blood sugar and reduce inflammation in the body. Now, researchers are exploring whether these same properties could protect the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye that deteriorates in AMD. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is partnering with Curative Biotechnology on this research through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA), signaling serious scientific interest in the approach .

The clinical development is moving forward with manufacturing support from Sterling Pharmaceutical Services, a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) specializing in sterile pharmaceutical products. Sterling will produce the clinical supply of metformin eye drops needed for human trials, as well as a parallel study in dogs with a genetic retinal condition called PDE6-associated retinal degeneration .

What Clinical Studies Are Planned?

Curative Biotechnology is preparing multiple clinical initiatives to test the metformin eye drop formulation:

• Phase 1 Human Trial: A first-in-human study targeting dry age-related macular degeneration, the form of AMD that accounts for approximately 90% of all AMD cases and currently has limited treatment options.
• K9 Clinical Study: A parallel trial in dogs with PDE6-associated retinal degeneration, a genetic early-onset retinal condition that may provide translational insights for human retinitis pigmentosa, a progressive inherited eye disease.
• Manufacturing Partnership: Sterling Pharmaceutical Services will support production of the sterile ophthalmic formulation to ensure the clinical supply meets pharmaceutical standards for human use.

"Engaging Sterling Pharmaceutical Services represents an important step in advancing our metformin-based ophthalmology platform toward clinical development. We are pleased to be working with an experienced manufacturing partner capable of supporting production of sterile ophthalmic formulations as we prepare for our planned human and K9 clinical studies," said Paul Michaels, Executive Chairman of Curative Biotechnology.

Paul Michaels, Executive Chairman of Curative Biotechnology

How Does This Approach Differ From Current AMD Treatments?

Dry AMD currently has very few approved treatment options, unlike wet AMD, which can be treated with injections into the eye. Most dry AMD patients are advised to take high-dose vitamin and mineral supplements, though these only slow progression in some cases. A topical eye drop formulation of metformin would offer a non-invasive alternative that could potentially reach more patients and be easier to administer than injections .

The use of a familiar drug in a new formulation also means researchers have extensive safety data from decades of metformin use in diabetes care. This could accelerate the clinical development process and provide confidence about potential side effects, though the eye drop formulation will need to be tested specifically for safety and efficacy in the retina.

Why Should You Care About This Development?

Age-related macular degeneration affects millions of people worldwide and is a leading cause of vision loss in adults over 50. Dry AMD, in particular, has limited treatment options, leaving many patients watching their central vision gradually decline without effective interventions. If metformin eye drops prove effective in clinical trials, they could offer a new tool for ophthalmologists to slow or prevent vision loss in this population .

The parallel dog study is also significant because it may provide insights into retinitis pigmentosa, a different inherited retinal disease that causes progressive vision loss, often beginning in childhood or young adulthood. Success in the canine model could open doors to treating multiple retinal conditions with a single drug platform.

What's Next for This Research?

The manufacturing partnership with Sterling Pharmaceutical Services marks a critical milestone in moving from laboratory research to human testing. The company is now preparing for its planned phase 1 human trial, which will assess the safety and tolerability of the metformin eye drop formulation in people with dry AMD. Results from these early studies could determine whether metformin becomes a new standard treatment option for one of the most common causes of age-related vision loss.