Agent for the prevention, improvement or treatment of retinal disease

Abstract

A prophylactic, ameliorating or therapeutic agent for a retinal disease, the agent comprising geranylgeranylacetone which (a) is a mixture of (5E,9E,13E)-geranylgeranylacetone and (5Z,9E,13E)-geranylgeranylacetone, the (5E,9E,13E)-geranylgeranylacetone content of the mixture being 80% by weight or more, (b) consists of (5E,9E,13E)-geranylgeranylacetone, or (c) consists of (5Z,9E,13E)-geranylgeranylacetone directly suppresses the death of a retinal cell, thereby fundamentally preventing, ameliorating or treating the retinal disease.

1 . A method for preventing, ameliorating or treating a retinal disease, the method comprising the step of administering to a patient with a retinal disease an effective amount of geranylgeranylacetone which
 (a) is a mixture of (5E,9E,13E)-geranylgeranylacetone and (5Z,9E,13E)-geranylgeranylacetone, the (5E,9E,13E)-geranylgeranylacetone content of the mixture being 80% by weight or more,   (b) consists of (5E,9E,13E)-geranylgeranylacetone, or   (c) consists of (5Z,9E,13E)-geranylgeranylacetone, thereby preventing, ameliorating or treating the retinal disease.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising administering an ophthalmic composition comprising geranylgeranylacetone to the eye of a patient with a retinal disease. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the geranylgeranylacetone content of the ophthalmic composition is 0.00001 to 10% by weight relative to the total amount of the preparation. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising orally administering an oral agent comprising geranylgeranylacetone to a patient with a retinal disease. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the geranylgeranylacetone content of the oral agent is 0.001 to 80% by weight relative to the total amount of the preparation. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the retinal disease is a disease selected from the group consisting of glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. 
     
     
         7 . A method for protecting a retinal cell, the method comprising the step of administering to a patient with a retinal disease an effective amount of geranylgeranylacetone which
 (a) is a mixture of (5E,9E,13E)-geranylgeranylacetone and (5Z,9E,13E)-geranylgeranylacetone, the (5E,9E,13E)-geranylgeranylacetone content of the mixture being 80% by weight or more,   (b) consists of (5E,9E,13E)-geranylgeranylacetone, or   (c) consists of (5Z,9E,13E)-geranylgeranylacetone, thereby protecting a retinal cell.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , comprising administering an ophthalmic composition comprising geranylgeranylacetone to the eye of a patient with a retinal disease. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the geranylgeranylacetone content of the ophthalmic composition is 0.00001 to 10% by weight relative to the total amount of the preparation. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 7 , comprising orally administering an oral agent comprising geranylgeranylacetone to a patient with a retinal disease. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the geranylgeranylacetone content of the oral agent is 0.001 to 80% by weight relative to the total amount of the preparation. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the retinal disease is a disease selected from the group consisting of glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. 
     
     
         13 . A method for suppressing the degeneration, impairment or destruction of a retinal cell, the method comprising the step of administering to a patient with a retinal disease an effective amount of geranylgeranylacetone which
 (a) is a mixture of (5E,9E,13E)-geranylgeranylacetone and (5Z,9E,13E)-geranylgeranylacetone, the (5E,9E,13E)-geranylgeranylacetone content of the mixture being 80% by weight or more,   (b) consists of (5E,9E,13E)-geranylgeranylacetone, or   (c) consists of (5Z,9E,13E)-geranylgeranylacetone, thereby suppressing the degeneration, impairment or destruction of a retinal cell.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , comprising administering an ophthalmic composition comprising geranylgeranylacetone to the eye of a patient with a retinal disease. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the geranylgeranylacetone content of the ophthalmic composition is 0.00001 to 10% by weight relative to the total amount of the preparation. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , comprising orally administering an oral agent comprising geranylgeranylacetone to a patient with a retinal disease. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the geranylgeranylacetone content of the oral agent is 0.001 to 80% by weight relative to the total amount of the preparation. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the retinal disease is a disease selected from the group consisting of glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.