Exploring the use of spironolactone to treat diseases of the cornea – Study by INSERM

Glucocorticoids are a powerful class of anti-inflamatory drugs that can reduce inflammation and support the immune system, which makes them a potential treatment for rare eye diseases.

These drugs work by interacting with two different types of receptors in the body: the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR). Although these drugs yield positive effects through activation of the GR, many of the harmful side effects of glucocorticoids are due to their interaction with the MR. Therefore, in this study our team sought to evaluate if spirolacton – a well-known GR antagonist (a compound that blocks the action of the GR) – could be promising candidate for improving the treatment of various diseases affecting vision.

To do so, our team has designed two formulations containing spirolactone: eye drops to treat diseases of the front part of the eye, and a suspension for injection to treat diseases of the back part of the eye. Both formulations were carefully designed to address different eye conditions and were subjected to numerous lab tests to ensure the right formulations were prepared. They were also monitored regularly in the lab to ensure they retained the right levels of ingredients and with no impurities. The main focus was to ensure that spironolactone was released effectively from the formulations, since this is crucial for future testing in animals and eventually humans. Overall, the spironolactone remained stable within the formulations and was released at ideal levels, with only a minor loss by the end of the study period.

The results of this study suggest that both formulations represent feasible treatments for different eye diseases and disorders that involve inflammation. However additional research is needed to confirm their long-term effectiveness before they can be tested in animals and, eventually, in human patients.