Survival Factors/Proteins

Also see Neuroprotective Therapy.  Proteins, or drugs, that promote the health and survival of nerve cells, including photoreceptors.

Survival factors are drugs or biologically-occurring proteins that promote the health of nerve cells, such as photoreceptors. There are many different types of survival factors. Examples include, ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). CNTF is a survival factor/protein that is being used in clinical trials for RP and dry AMD.